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MANILA – Dozens of barangay officials have been suspended for irregularities in the implementation of the government’s monetary aid to poor families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Interior Department said on Saturday.
At least 89 punong barangays have been pre-emptively suspended for 6 months by the Ombudsman’s Office, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said.
“Corruption has no place in our government, especially during the pandemic,” said Interior Secretary Eduardo Año.
(Let the suspension serve as a warning to other local officials. Corruption has no place in our government, especially in this time of pandemic).
The Ombudsman’s Office acted on the complaints filed by DILG against barangay officials who made mistakes.
In an order dated September 2, 2020, the Ombudsman’s Office said that “the evidence in the record shows that the guilt of these punong barangays is strong and the charges against them include gross dishonesty, gross misconduct, abuse of authority and conduct detrimental to the Best Interest of the Service that may justify the removal of the service. “
Year said Region I, National Capital Region and Region II top the list of suspended Punong Barangays, while Cordillera Administrative Region and Caraga have the fewest number of suspended PBs.
The DILG also urged the local government units of these Punong barangays to immediately implement the suspension order.
Criminal cases were also brought against 447 people for violating Republic Law 3019 (Law against Bribery and Corrupt Practices), RA 11469 (Bayanihan Law I) and RA 6713 (Code of Conduct for Government Officials and Employees), among others, again in relation to the implementation of Social Improvement.
Of the 447 suspects, 211 are local and barangay elected officials, 104 are designated barangay officials, and 132 are their civilian accomplices.
The cases are now being handled by different municipal and provincial prosecutors across the country, DILG said.
Eduardo Year, DILG, SAP 1, government monetary aid, social improvement, corrupt barangay officials
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