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SAP distribution (file photo)
MANILA, Philippines – Eighty-nine barangay captains were slapped with a six-month preventive suspension for anomalies in the implementation of the first tranche of the Social Improvement Program (SAP), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said on Saturday.
In a statement, the secretary of the DILG, Eduardo Año, said that the Ombudsman’s Office issued the order of preventive suspension.
A year later, he ordered the municipal and city mayors to implement the order once received. Likewise, he also directed the regional and field officials of the DILG to ensure the implementation of the suspension orders.
According to the Ombudsman’s Office order dated September 2, “the recorded evidence shows that the guilt of these punong barangays is strong and the charges against them involve gross dishonesty, gross misconduct, abuse of authority and conduct detrimental to the best interest of the service that can justify removal from service “.
The DILG said the Ilocos, Cagayan Valley and Metro Manila region have the highest number of suspended barangay captains.
The Cordillera Administrative Region and the Caraga region have the fewest number of suspended barangay presidents. Only the Soccsksargen region does not have suspended barangay presidents across all regions, the DILG added.
Meanwhile, DILG undersecretary and spokesman Jonathan Malaya said the suspension of the 89 barangay presidents is “the first mass suspension of its kind in the country’s history.”
Malaya added that the Investigations and Criminal Detection Group of the Philippine National Police has also brought criminal cases against 447 people for violating the Republic Law (RA) 3019 (Anti-Corruption and Anti-Corruption Practices Law), RA 11469 (Bayanihan Law I) and RA 6713 (Code of Conduct for Government Officials and Employees) in relation to SAP implementation .
Of the 447 people, 227 are elected officials, 104 are barangay officials, and 132 are civilian accomplices.
These cases are being handled by different municipal and provincial prosecutors across the country, Malaya added.
The national government launched its cash subsidy program for low-income families after various parts of the country were blocked due to the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Under the SAP, each beneficiary receives a cash subsidy of P5,000 to P8,000 for two tranches based on the minimum wage rates in force in their respective regions.
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