Social Amelioration anomaly: 14 brgy execs, workers yield

MANILA, Philippines — Fourteen officials and workers of Barangay Tubod in Barili, Cebu who were ordered arrested over irregularities in the distribution of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) surrendered to the police morning on Wednesday, October 21.

They all posted bail in the afternoon, said Captain Romeo Caacoy, Jr., chief of the Barili Police.

The accused are facing charges for violating Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-graft and corrupt practices Act.

The barangay officials were identified as Aurelio Mabano, captain; and councilmen Mercy Camonas, Romulo Omalay, Baleriano Mabano, Roy Tangarorang, Loreto Ejambre, Arthur Aranda, and Carlo Emnacen.

The six other accused are health workers Victoria Talara, Maricar Escabillas, Mary Jane Elizar, Modesta Mambinuyao, Ludy Tanudra, and Ruchina Panugaling.

Barili Mayor Julito Flores said the 14 went to his office and he assisted them in going to the police station to surrender, and in processing their bail.

"As of this time nakapyansa na sila, gawasnon na sila karong panahona through surety bond instead og P90,000… nipili man sila sa surety bond so ang ang surety bond niigo na lang og P18,000, twenty percent of P90,000. Nagpa-facilitate ko sa ilang temporary liberty. Ako, nisaad na ko nila," Flores said yesterday.

(As of this time, they have posted bail. They chose to pay through surety bond so it was only P18,000 or 20 percent of P90,000. I facilitated their bail for temporary liberty. I promised them I would.)

A total of 90 individuals in Central Visayas are facing charges for alleged involvement in the SAP anomaly, said Major Ronald Tolosa, deputy chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) -7.

Of this number, 23 are barangay captains, 13 are councilmen, one is a chairperson of the Sangguniang Kabataan, three are barangay secretaries, four are health workers, eight are purok leaders, four are social workers, and 26 are civilians.

CIDG investigated the alleged anomaly from April 1 to August 13, 2020 following an order from no less than President Rodrigo Duterte.

Flores refused to comment on the case, considering it is now in court. He, however, provided them with a lawyer, Eddie Barrita.

The accused are scheduled to be arraigned on November 5, 2020. — Le Phyllis F. Antojado/JMO (FREEMAN)