President Duterte has begun cracking down on barangay officials who are pocketing cash aid from the national government’s Social Amelioration Program in response to the COVID-19 crisis.
In an announcement made on Monday, May 4, the President said he will be rewarding PHP 30,000 to those who will report and give information about these officials caught stealing the financial assistance meant for the poor.
“‘Pag napatunayan po ‘yong inyong reklamo sa korapsyon laban sa mga lokal na opisyales na kinukurakot ‘yong mga ayuda na pinamimigay ng gobyerno, PHP 30,000 ang pabuya na ibibigay ng ating presidente sa inyo,” Secretary Harry Roque said in a televised address.
“Alinsunod po ito sa zero tolerance ng ating presidente laban sa korapsyon, lalong-lalo na po roon sa mga kumakana at kumukurakot ng ayuda para sa mga mahihirap,” he added.
The President cited as an example Councilor Danilo Flores of Barangay San Agustin, Hagonoy, Bulacan who had allegedly pocketed a portion of the cash assistance to beneficiaries. According to Flores, there was an “internal agreement” that the missing amount was going to be allocated for those who were not given financial aid. He was arrested for graft.
Those who want to make complaints about their local officials should call telephone number 8888, Roque said. For those who need aid should also leave their name and contact details.
(ALSO READ: Pasig City to Cover Aid for Over 100,000 Families Excluded from DSWD’s SAP Program)
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