50 village chiefs face raps over SAP anomalies

MANILA, Philippines — At least 50 village chiefs are facing preventive suspension over the alleged misuse of funds intended to help poor households and workers displaced by pandemic lockdowns, according to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group has logged 155 criminal complaints against barangay captains accused of anomalies in the distribution of the social amelioration program (SAP). The complaints have been submitted to the ombudsman.

“Within the week, we expect that initially, 50 barangay captains would be slapped with preventive suspension while the ombudsman is investigating the administrative aspect of their cases,” Año said during a meeting of the government’s pandemic task force in Davao City last Monday.

Of the 50 village chiefs, 13 are from Metro Manila, 13 from the Ilocos region, 11 from CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon), 10 from Cagayan Valley and three from Central Luzon.

“Others will follow as the ombudsman conducts its investigation,” Año said.

President Duterte, who presided over the meeting of the pandemic task force, said no one would be spared in the government’s crackdown against corruption.

“I said (Sen.) Bong (Go), even if he is our friend, even if he helped us, even if they contributed money to help us (during the campaign)... We did not talk about allowing (donors) to engage in corruption just because you contributed,” Duterte said.

Nevertheless, the President noted that campaign donors are already rich, so they no longer need to engage in corrupt activities.