ILOILO City – The number of persons in Western Visayas charged by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) for alleged anomalies in the distribution of the emergency cash assistance under the government’s Social Amelioration Program (SAP) has risen to 215.
Included in these respondents were barangay officials, some personnel of the Department of Social Welfare and Development Region 6 and private persons.
CIDG Region 6 chief Police Lieutenant Gervacio Balmaceda said his office received 168 complaints and these were vetted, leading to the filing of charges against 125 persons.
In terms of area, Bacolod City had the most number of persons the CIDG charged (89), followed by Iloilo province (38) and Negros Occidental (29).
“Expect the number to further increase. We have so many pending complaints being investigated mostly involving the first tranche of SAP. Hindi pa tayo umaabot sa second tranche,” said Balmaceda.
The specific charges that CIDG filed were for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corruption Practices Act and Bayanihan to Heal as One Act and mostly involved the giving of cash assistance to those not qualified for it./PN
