BACOLOD City – Police authorities in Negros Occidental is launching an extensive investigation on the supposed anomalies in the distribution of financial aid to economically displaced residents due to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
On Monday, Colonel Romeo Baleros, police provincial chief, said he directed PNP units all police chiefs in the province to prioritize the investigation of graft and corruption cases against local officials on the distribution of cash aid under the social amelioration program (SAP).
“I gave particular orders to the chiefs of police to direct their intelligence officers and investigators to go to the field to validate reports. This will encourage increased vigilance among the people in the barangays,” according to Baleros.
He further directed these police chiefs to establish “action centers” with dedicated hotline numbers which will receive and act on any reports of irregularities on the SAP distribution.
The Negros Occidental Provincial Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit was also tasked to assist the stations.
Meanwhile, Baleros has encouraged all Negrenses to report to the nearest police station through their posted hotline numbers any information on anomalies that they know, assuring that their identities will be protected./PN
