TWENTY-FOUR local elected and appointed public officials in Davao Region and their civilian co-conspirators are currently investigated for their alleged anomalies in the pay-outs of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP).
In a press release, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said the 24 cases are currently being investigated by the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) after the complaints were filed on the regional level.
DILG said the complaints are in connection with the alleged anomalous distribution of the first tranche of the SAP, a financial intervention spearheaded by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
SAP is a government cash assistance program intended for low-income households heavily-affected by the community quarantine imposed to contain the spread of Covid-19.
The 24 local officials are included in the 626 cases being investigated by PNP-CIDG.
SunStar Davao reached out to DILG-Davao Regional Director Alex Roldan for further details, but he said he will be issuing a statement in the coming days.
SunStar also reached out to DSWD-Davao Information Officer Kristelle May Catigan for comments on the matter, but she said only DILG can comment on it.
Meanwhile, DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año said they already filed 437 cases in relation to the SAP anomalies.
Año said of the 437 cases filed before various Prosecutor's Offices of the Department of Justice in the country, 203 were elected public officials, including a municipal mayor, city/municipal councilors, barangay captains, barangay kagawads, SK chairmen and SK councilors.
Another 102 are barangay and city personnel, including barangay secretaries, barangay treasurers, barangay health workers, homeowners association officers, purok leaders, city/municipal social welfare and development officer, SAP enumerators and day care teachers while the remaining 132 were civilian co-conspirators.
DILG earlier filed complaints against 50 barangay officials from among those currently being investigated with a prayer for their immediate preventive suspension.
Meanwhile, Año said the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) is investigating 336 SAP related-cases across the country.
Of the 336 cases, 240 were already filed with the Prosecutor's Office, three are for case filing, six were endorsed to other agencies, 46 are under investigation or case build-up, and 41 were dismissed for lack of probable cause or insufficient evidence.
On a regional level, 50 cases were filed in Soccsksargen, 40 cases in Western Visayas, 33 cases in Central Visayas, 30 cases in Region Calabarzon, 26 cases in Eastern Visayas, 24 cases in Davao Region, and 21 cases in National Capital Region.
There are also 16 cases in Bicol, 14 cases in Mimaropa, 15 cases in Ilocos, 14 cases in Cagayan Valley, 12 cases in Northern Mindanao, 12 cases in Caraga, 10 in Cordillera Administrative Region, and two in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Barmm).
DSWD is currently distributing the second tranche of SAP, starting August this month.