PNP chief Police General Archie Gamboa said Wednesday the Philippine National Police is now ready to implement an orderly distribution of the second tranche of SAP (social amelioration program) cash aid to beneficiaries.
Gamboa said PNP personnel, including augmented police forces from the regional and national headquarters, would be deployed to provide safety and security services to local government units and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
“I ordered police regional offices and concerned PNP units to give full support in terms of technical, administrative, and logistical assistance to facilitate the orderly distribution of cash aid under SAP,” Gamboa said.
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier tasked the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the PNP to lead in the distribution of the cash aid after numerous complaints of irregularities and anomalies involving barangay officials during the first tranche.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Tuesday reported at least 649 individuals, including 260 government officials, are facing charges for alleged anomaly on the SAP cash aid distribution.
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) have filed the cases in courts, and the DILG already issued show-cause orders to the officials involved.
DILG also filed complaints against the government officials before the Office of the Ombudsman.
Meanwhile, Gamboa added that regional police offices have already coordinated with the AFP territorial units to conduct clearing operations to ensure the safety of beneficiaries as they travel to the distribution centers and return to their homes.
“Select PNP personnel will be deployed in the distribution centers to assist in the actual disbursement and handling of funds, in cooperation with DSWD special disbursing officers,” Gamboa said.
Local barangay officials meanwhile would work with the local police in enforcing minimum health protocols such as physical distancing, sanitation areas, and other security requirements at distribution centers.
The second tranche of the SAP cash aid (P5,000 to P8,000 per month for two months) would be given to residents in the National Capital Region, Region III (except Aurora), and Region IV-A.
Also included are Benguet, Pangasinan, Iloilo, Albay, Cebu, and the principal cities of Bacolod, Zamboanga, and Davao.