QUEZON CITY -- Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar urged police offices to ensure the orderly and honest distribution of assistance in areas that continue to give cash aid to those affected by the pandemic.

PGen Eleazar said personnel deployed in aid distribution should be alert, and assist in making sure that those getting the cash assistance are the ones who are on the official list of beneficiaries.

This came after the arrest of a barangay chairman and three other individuals in Manila City for allegedly stealing the cash assistance intended for qualified beneficiaries. The suspects supposedly used faked dentification cards and falsified some documents to get the cash assistance that was not intended for them.

“I commend all the PNP personnel responsible for the arrest of those barangay officials who are taking advantage of the pandemic at the expense of our poor kababayan in Manila,” said PGen Eleazar.

“Inatasan ko na ang RD (Regional Director), NCRPO, na tiyakin ang pagsasampa ng malakas na mga kaso upang managot ang mga tiwaling opisyal na ito ng barangay,” he added.

The PNP chief tasked the local police to coordinate with higher local government officials to discuss the steps that need to be undertaken to prevent this from happening again.

He also urged the public to report to authorities if they know some irregularities happening during aid distribution.

“Maliwanag ang bilin ng ating Pangulo at ng ating SILG Eduardo Año na tiyakin na makakarating sa ating mga kababayan ang mga ayuda na para sa kanila, kaya hinihimok natin ang ating mga kababayan na isumbong sa inyong PNP kung may mga ganitong insidente sa inyong mga barangay,” PGen Eleazar said. (PNP-PIO)