DSWD personnel face graft charges for ‘pocketing’ returned SAP aid


ILOILO CITY—The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) has filed graft charges against two Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) personnel for allegedly pocketing the cash aid that was returned by unqualified beneficiaries of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) in Iloilo province.

A complainant attests the graft charges filed against two personnel of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for alleged anomalies in distribution of SAP cash aid before the Iloilo Provincial Prosecutor’s Office. (CIDG Iloilo / MANILA BULLETIN)
A complainant attests the graft charges filed against two personnel of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for alleged anomalies in distribution of SAP cash aid before the Iloilo Provincial Prosecutor’s Office. (CIDG Iloilo / MANILA BULLETIN)

CIDG Chief for Western Visayas Police Lt. Col. Jun Balmaceda said graft and corrupt charges were filed before the Iloilo Provincial Prosecutor’s Office against Svenina Billones and Jande Arroyo, both assigned to the DSWD municipal link office in Dumangas town.

According to Balmaceda, agents of CIDG-Iloilo Provincial Field Unit verified the accusation of a civilian informant against the two when five persons came forward with the same information.  They claimed they returned the P6,000 cash aid each to Billones and Arroyo.

However, the five, who returned the cash aid, did not get an official receipt from Billones and Arroyo, which it should have been done as per DSWD’s guideline.

Meanwhile, a separate administrative case will be filed against the Billones and Arroyo before the Office of the Ombudsman.