BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Mayor Richard Jaojoco of Toboso, Negros Occidental has defended one of his barangay captains in hot water over the distribution of cash aid under the government’s Social Amelioration Program (SAP).
Jaojoco believes the case against village head Romeo Sultan of Barangay Salamanca was “politically motivated,” and he would not bow down to the political powers in the 1st District.
Sultan was charged by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office for violation of Republic Act (RA) 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) and RA 11469 (Bayanihan to Heal as One Act).
A separate administrative case for Violation of RA 6713 (Code of Ethical Standard of Public Official) is also set to be filed at the Office of the Ombudsman upon resumption of its services.
Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Gantang, head of the CIDG-Negros Occidental, said some residents of the barangays went to their office to complain not being included in the list of beneficiaries to receive the cash assistance from the national government.
However, Jaojoco denied the complainants and CIDG’s claim.
The mayor pointed out that in his municipality alone “there are 3,000- 4,000 families who did not receive the first tranche of the SAP despite being qualified.”
“The regional director of the Department of Social Services and Development actually wrote me a letter explaining that they don’t have enough funds for all legitimate beneficiaries,” Jaojoco said.
He said the barangay captain “has nothing to do about it.”
“These police from the Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office are looking for a political patron which they found in the 1st District,” he added.
In May, the CIDG also filed similar charges against 19 barangay officials in Western Visayas over alleged anomalies in the distribution of SAP./PN