A village councilor and three personnel of Barangay Felisa here have been charged before the City Prosecutor’s Office for allegedly compelling a beneficiary of the government cash assistance to surrender a portion of the amount he was supposed to receive.
Resident Paul Lauchinvar Villanueva lodged the complaint on Friday with the help of the Philippine National Police – Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) Bacolod City Field Unit, headed by Chief MSgt. Ramiro Gocotano.
Named in the charge sheet were Kagawad Joji Agbas and liaisons Marissa Senarillos, Sheila Hiponia, and Beverly Bayot for violation of the provisions of Republic Act (RA) 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, RA 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, and RA 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.
In the case information, Gocotano said on April 18, the respondents confederated in obliging the complainant to give to the barangay PHP1,000 of the PHP6,000 he was set to receive under the government’s social amelioration program (SAP) for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) crisis.
Villanueva refused, and on April 22, he learned that his name was no longer on the master list of recipients.
“The complainant believes that the respondents were the ones responsible for manipulating his disqualification and denial of his application for final processing upon his refusal to be deducted the PHP1,000,” it added.
Villanueva said on April 8, he was surveyed and directed to fill out the social amelioration card (SAC) form but during the day of the distribution, he discovered that he was not listed in the final roster and payroll.
Last month, seven residents of Barangay Felisa also filed charges against barangay chairman Ramon Jardin, barangay secretary Stephen Jalandoon, barangay liaisons Corazon Latoza and Rosejean Estador.
They alleged that respondents took back the amount of PHP4,000 from them after they received the PHP6,000 cash assistance. (Nanette Guadalquiver ndb via pna)