By Aaron Recuenco
Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), has ordered all police commanders to identify and investigate local officials who are involved in the irregular distribution of the cash assistance from the national government.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Archie Gamboa
(Police Regional Office 10 / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Gamboa said that he issued the directive during a command conference with regional directors and other top commanders of the PNP on Tuesday, citing the case in Hagonoy town of Bulacan where a barangay councilor allegedly asked for 50 percent cut of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) assistance.
“This (intensify monitoring and investigation of local officials) is the reminder I gave to our commanders because this is a direct order from the President,” said Gamboa during the turnover of quarantine center at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Earlier, Gamboa also formed dedicated investigating teams and tapped the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to run after local officials who are involved in corruption activities relating to SAP distribution.
As of Wednesday, Gamboa disclosed that two more barangay officials are now being investigated for possible wrongdoings.
One of them is in Bicol region where a barangay captain reportedly distributed SAP forms to unqualified recipients and another is in Western Visayas where unqualified SAP beneficiaries were included because they are relatives of the barangay captain.
“There will be more that's why I hope we could encourage the public to take advantage of the President’s offer of P30,000 (reward) by providing the PNP the facts or probable witness so we can investigate,” said Gamboa.
It was recalled that President Duterte has offered P30,000 for any information that could lead to the case-build up against a local official over SAP anomaly.
“I hope this will discourage, this will be a lesson to all those who are distributing the SAP not to take advantage of their position,” said Gamboa.