A VILLAGE chief and a social welfare official in Isabela town are facing graft charges on the alleged anomalies in the distribution of the social amelioration program (SAP).
Police Regional Office-Western Visayas director Rene Pamuspusan identified the local officials as village captain Maria Luz Leal Ferrer of Barangay 8, Isabela and municipal social welfare development officer Mae Fajardo.
According to Police Brigadier General Pamuspusan, both Ferrer and Fajardo were accused of being “biased” in selecting the beneficiaries, as well as falsifying the list of SAP recipients.
The PRO-Western Visayas director explained the allegations were forwarded by a concerned citizen, and after finding evidence, he ordered Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office (Nocppo) to file charges against Ferrer for violating Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-graft and corrupt practices Act and Article 171 of the Revised Penal Code for Fajardo for falsification of documents by a public officer.
In response to the allegations, Ferrer said in radio interviews that the case stemmed from her 13-year-old granddaughter who was earlier listed as one of the recipients of SAP.
She explained that the 13-year-old was indeed her granddaughter, but she clarified that her last name was Yurpo, and not Ferrer as being claimed by the individual who was spreading the false information especially on social media.
She pointed out Yurpo’s mother passed away at an early age, while the child’s father abandoned her when she was just seven months old.
Ferrer said all individuals listed beneficiaries underwent the proper process and were even interviewed prior to the handover of the financial assistance.
She said lactating mothers, senior citizens, and those considered as the poorest of the poor in her community.
Ferrer further pointed out Yurpo was a legitimate beneficiary of the program since she is considered as an “orphan,” although she did state that they also relented in getting the P6,000 cash assistance.
She also claimed Fajardo even held the release of the cash.
Following the incident, Ferrer said they returned the P6,000 cash to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in order to avoid further aggravating the situation. However, she said they are planning to file charges against the individual who spread the false information about them.