The Department of Justice (DOJ) assured it will conduct a thorough investigation on erring barangay and local officials involved in the anomalous distribution of aid under the Social Amelioration Program (SAP).
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the DOJ will prioritize the investigation of the complaints they received on the issue.
“These cases take on a sinister and disgraceful character, considering that money intended for poor hungry people is unlawfully taken away from them,” Guevarra declared.
“I will leave it to the Prosecutor General to decide whether these cases should be consolidated and/or handled by a panel of prosecutors or individual prosecutors,” he added.
Meanwhile, Prosecutor General Atty. Benedicto Malcontento said he has directed all prosecutor offices in the country to immediately set preliminary investigations and “to monitor progress and report to us.”
