DILG: 183 barangay execs under probe over alleged corruption in cash aid distribution
MANILA, Philippines — Some 183 barangay officials are under investigation over alleged corruption in the distribution of social amelioration program, the Department of the Interior and Local Government said Monday.
In a statement, DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said “complaints poured in” after President Rodrigo Duterte announced last week a P30,000-reward for confirmed corruption incidents over distribution of government cash aid in this COVID-19 pandemic.
The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group is conducting the probe.
“There are a lot of complaints but we are now sorting them to pin-point the cases that have basis, so for now, there are 183 cases under investigation,” he added in a mix of English and Filipino.
It remains unclear where the funds of the reward will be sourced.
The DILG chief said that arrests have been made since the first week of May, starting with Hagonoy, Bulacan barangay councilor Danilo Flores who was mentioned by Duterte in his public address.
Police have also arrested Isabela, Negros Occidental barangay captain Maria Luz Leal Ferrer who was accused of falsifying the beneficiaries list in her barangay.
“Reports and accounts from the credible witnesses and scrutiny of the alleged manipulated list of SAP beneficiaries also point to the suspect. Mae Fajardo, a municipal social worker, was also arrested together with Ferrer for allegedly falsifying the official SAP recipient list,” the DILG added.
DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya urged the public to continue reporting incidents of “kaltas,” “splitting,” falsification and other corrupt practices to the nearest police of DILG office.
Reports may also be made to the government Hotline 8888 for graft and corruption cases against barangay and local officials.
The DILG has also asked the National Bureau of Investigation to look into alleged graft and corruption in communities. — Kristine Joy Patag
President Rodrigo Duterte signed the bill that grants him special powers to address the novel coronavirus outbreak in the Philippines. Bookmark this page for updates.
Strategies proposed by the inter-agency taskforce against the COVID-19 pandemic need the approval of President Rodrigo Duterte, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque says.
He made the statement after news of a shift to "granular" lockdowns that will be first implemented in the National Capital Region starting September 8.
The government should extend 'Bayanihan 2', the legislation intended to address the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Akbayan says as it joins the call of labor groups SENTRO and NAGKAISA for an extension.
"Millions of Filipinos are still without work thanks to the pandemic. Add the fact that the country is under recession for the first time since the Marcos years, and it becomes imperative that the State step in and continue to provide aid," the party-list says.
"We echo the view that terminating Bayanihan 2 now will push more Filipino families towards hunger and desperation. The government must realize that without a sustained comprehensive economic aid plan, people will be forced to leave their houses to get food, medicine and supplies, which increases the risk of getting COVID. And with hotspots multiplying outside the NCR, extending Bayanihan 2 is not only logical, but necessary," it also says.
The government should increase efforts to inform people about the benefits of getting vaccinated against COVID-19 instead of threatening to jail those who refuse or telling them to leave the country, Akbayan says.
"Mr. Rodrigo Duterte cannot jail his way out of this pandemic. Neither can he expel COVID-19 by throwing out of the country Filipinos who are hesitant of the vaccines. It is both sad and ironic that in the middle of a catastrophe, the President is so quick to threaten to expel his own people, yet chooses to remain silent on Chinese incursions in the West Philippine Sea," Dr. RJ Naguit, Akbayan spokesperson, says in a release.
"The global health crisis is not simply a law and order problem. The virus cannot be contained by penal servitude. This is exactly the simplistic and violent approach that continues to divide this country, the idea that there are only two kinds of people, those who obey, and those who don't. There is far more to this crisis than that," he says.
The government has often used the "pasaway" narrative, saying people are stubborn and do not follow guidelines, to explain surges in COVID-19 cases and other issues related to the pandemic. This, despite top government officials being among those often seen flouting the same safety guidelines.
Face shields are no longer required when leaving home, the Palace says.
People will still need to wear face shields in public transportation, markets and indoor establishments.
This change in policy comes after President Rodrigo Duterte told senators that the face shields should only be worn in hospital settings.
Prior to the president's remarks, agencies, inlcuding the Palace had insisted on the use of face shields, claiming wearing them over face masks is almost as good as being vaccinated against COVID-19.
A total of 1,415 golf workers in Metro Manila have received cash aid from the DOT and DOLE as part of the Bayanihan 2 act.
The golf caddies, golf workers and employees in five major golf clubs in the capital region received almost P7.075 million.
“For the beneficiaries of the cash assistance program with us today, I hope that this amount can help you and your families in this difficult time," Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat says.
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