Brgy chair, 3 others in Bacolod charged for SAP anomalies
Published May 16, 2020 12:00 am
By Glazyl Masculino
BACOLOD CITY – The chairman and three other officials of Barangay Felisa here were charged for alleged irregularities on the distribution of the government’s Social Amelioration Program (SAP).
Seven residents of Barangay Felisa, Bacolod City filed their complaints against their barangay captain, and three others before Assistant City Prosecutor Hermes Arino at the Hall of Justice Friday, for alleged irregularities on the distribution of the government’s Social Amelioration Program (SAP). (Photo courtesy of CIDG- Bacolod)
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Bacolod filed criminal charges on Friday before the City Prosecutor’s Office against Barangay Chairman Ramon Jardin, Barangay Secretary Stephen Jalandoon, Purok President Corazon Latoza, and Barangay Liason Officer Rosejean Estador for violation of Republic Act (RA) 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and RA 11469, or the Bayanihan To Heal As One Act.
The charges stemmed from the complaints of seven residents of Barangay Felisa, accusing the respondents of conspiracy for allegedly collecting P4,000 from their P6,000 SAP allowances on April 22, according to CIDG-Bacolod head Ramiro Gocotano.
Gocotano said they conducted validation on the report when they received it on May 7. The same investigation was undertaken by other provincial and city CIDG field units for the filing of appropriate charges against erring local officials.
In response, Jardin, in a radio interview, denied the accusations against him, claiming that he was even caught by surprise that such a complaint had been filed by his constituents.
Jardin said that he had emphasized to the barangay officials and workers that the cash aid should be given to identified qualified SAP beneficiaries affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
He said that he earlier asked the complainants to attend a special session of the barangay council to discuss their complaints regarding the SAP distribution, but they did not show up, until he learned that they already reported these to authorities.
For his part, Jalandoon, in the same radio interview, also denied the accusations against him, claiming that he did not tell the purok president or anyone to collect any amount from the SAP beneficiaries.
He said that the complainants should have settled their complaints against them, and not waited for several days to report it to the CIDG, since they could just be contacted at the barangay hall.
He maintained that they have not done wrong, and that they have done their part to help their constituents amid the crisis.
The two other accused have yet to comment on the allegations against them.
Meanwhile, Lt Col. Gervacio Balmaceda, CIDG-6 head, said he was encouraging individuals to report any SAP irregularities in their localities to the nearest police station or CIDG field unit offices in Western Visayas.
Seven residents of Barangay Felisa, Bacolod City filed their complaints against their barangay captain, and three others before Assistant City Prosecutor Hermes Arino at the Hall of Justice Friday, for alleged irregularities on the distribution of the government’s Social Amelioration Program (SAP). (Photo courtesy of CIDG- Bacolod)
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Bacolod filed criminal charges on Friday before the City Prosecutor’s Office against Barangay Chairman Ramon Jardin, Barangay Secretary Stephen Jalandoon, Purok President Corazon Latoza, and Barangay Liason Officer Rosejean Estador for violation of Republic Act (RA) 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and RA 11469, or the Bayanihan To Heal As One Act.
The charges stemmed from the complaints of seven residents of Barangay Felisa, accusing the respondents of conspiracy for allegedly collecting P4,000 from their P6,000 SAP allowances on April 22, according to CIDG-Bacolod head Ramiro Gocotano.
Gocotano said they conducted validation on the report when they received it on May 7. The same investigation was undertaken by other provincial and city CIDG field units for the filing of appropriate charges against erring local officials.
In response, Jardin, in a radio interview, denied the accusations against him, claiming that he was even caught by surprise that such a complaint had been filed by his constituents.
Jardin said that he had emphasized to the barangay officials and workers that the cash aid should be given to identified qualified SAP beneficiaries affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
He said that he earlier asked the complainants to attend a special session of the barangay council to discuss their complaints regarding the SAP distribution, but they did not show up, until he learned that they already reported these to authorities.
For his part, Jalandoon, in the same radio interview, also denied the accusations against him, claiming that he did not tell the purok president or anyone to collect any amount from the SAP beneficiaries.
He said that the complainants should have settled their complaints against them, and not waited for several days to report it to the CIDG, since they could just be contacted at the barangay hall.
He maintained that they have not done wrong, and that they have done their part to help their constituents amid the crisis.
The two other accused have yet to comment on the allegations against them.
Meanwhile, Lt Col. Gervacio Balmaceda, CIDG-6 head, said he was encouraging individuals to report any SAP irregularities in their localities to the nearest police station or CIDG field unit offices in Western Visayas.