Samar village chief, 3 kagawads collared for SAP anomalies
PHILIPPINE National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) Director Major General Eliseo DC Cruz yesterday announced the arrest of a barangay captain in Jiabong, Samar, and three of his “kagawads” accused of involvement in the “anomalous” distribution of Social Amelioration Program or SAP funds for poor folks at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a report to PNP Officer-in-Charge (PNP-OIC) Lieutenant General Vicente D. Danao Jr., the PNP-CIDG chief said the arrested suspects were the chairman of Bgy. Malobago in Jiabong municipality and his three councilmen or “Kagawad”.
Maj. Gen. Cruz said that the four barangay officials were arrested on the strength of a warrant for violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act issued by Judge Cicero Lampasa of the Catbalogan City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 27.
According to Cruz, members of the CIDG Samar Provincial Field Unit investigated the reported irregularities in the distribution of SAP cash assistance said to be perpetrated by the accused in Bgy. Malobago.
The investigation showed that the four were involved in the “splitting” of cash assistance being given to SAP beneficiaries in their village. A concerned citizen reported the anomaly to the CIDG, triggering a massive investigation.
“With the diligence and efficiency exerted by detectives of the CIDG in investigating the anomalies in the SAP distribution, the public has seen a glimpse of justice for the [wrong] things done to them by those they trust to aid them in trying times,” said Maj. Gen. Cruz.
