Philippine News Agency • May 8, 2020
W. Visayas cops to probe SAP anomalies
PROBE VS. SAP ANOMALIES. Brig. Gen. Rene Pamuspusan, Police Regional Office (PRO) director in Western Visayas, said the cops in the region will investigate erring officials involved in anomalous distribution of the social amelioration program (SAP) fund. In a statement on Friday (May 8, 2020) he said the action is to ensure the government’s fund really reaches quarantine-affected households. (PNA file photo by Gail Momblan)
ILOILO CITY – Guided by the directives from its national headquarters, the Police Regional Office (PRO 6) in Western Visayas said it would conduct aggressive investigation against government officials involved in the anomalous distribution of social amelioration program (SAP) funds.
Brig. Gen. Rene Pamuspusan, PRO 6 regional director, has ordered provincial and city directors to go after corruption among local government units (LGUs) and village officials in the SAP distribution, said Lt. Col. Gilbert Gorero, of the PRO 6’s Regional Plans and Strategy Management Division and the concurrent spokesperson, on Friday.
In a teleconference on Thursday, all commanders in the region were directed to establish hotline numbers and action centers to accommodate complaints against erring village officials.
“If there are complaints regarding that (SAP) distribution, we will see the relative information first like if he or she has not received the SAP aid but is included in the list or has received the insufficient amount, among others,” he said.
The local police will be supported by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Western Visayas in investigating reports of irregularities, he added.
It will also be done in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), he said.
He urged the public to be vigilant and report corrupt government officials.
He said this action can help the administration assure the allocated budget will go to quarantine-affected households.
“If you have information, you can file the complaint,” he added.
Aside from erring officials, Gorero said the public can also report to the local police the SAP beneficiaries who misused the government’s financial aid.
“If you know SAP beneficiaries who gamble or misuse the government’s assistance, you can also report to the police for proper action,” he said.
Reports from the vigilant public can help assure the government that the funds it allocates reach households affected by the enhanced community quarantine, he added. (PNA)
