SAP-related complaints filed vs LGU execs

MANILA, Philippines — At least 11 complaints related to the supposed anomalous distribution of the government’s financial assistance under the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) have been filed against local government officials before the Office of the Ombudsman.

In a phone interview, Ombudsman Samuel Martires confirmed yesterday that his office received the complaints filed by various groups and individuals while the country is under lockdown due to the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19.

“Yung related sa SAP, ang natanggap namin 11 as of yesterday pero hindi pa namin binubusisi isa-isa (As of yesterday, we received 11 complaints related to SAP, although we have yet to examine each complaint),” Martires said.

Martires refused to give details such as the names and positions of the respondent local officials and their acts being complained of.

He said the ombudsman has yet to study the complaints.

Aside from the 11 complaints, Martires said the ombudsman received 110 non-SAP-related cases from March 12 to May 14, when most parts of the country were under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

“Even during the ECQ, we have been receiving lots of complaints. Some were filed online and some were sent in hard copies,” Martires said.

He said the ombudsman is currently encoding the complaints into their system before assigning field investigators to work on them.

He said his office will prioritize complaints related to the supposed SAP anomaly.

“We are waiting for additional data and complaints from the DILG,” Martires said, referring to the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

Field investigation will start as soon as the health risks for investigators are minimized.

“To be honest, it is hard to conduct field investigation right now, especially in COVID critical areas, particularly the conduct of face-to-face interviews,” he said.

Martires said he ordered his office to identify the major complaints and start gathering documentary evidence from various agencies.

Earlier, Martires warned local officials, especially barangay chairmen, against pocketing funds intended for families displaced by the pandemic.

He said the ombudsman “will personally audit public funds” allegedly misused or misappropriated.

Local officials who will be found liable for pocketing the SAP funds may face criminal and administrative charges, including plunder, graft and malversation, Martires said.