Kagawad Daniel Flores in detention. Photo by Rommel Ramos
HAGONOY, Bulacan — A kagawad (village councilor) was arrested Saturday night by the operatives of Hagonoy police for alleged graft and corruption after figuring in an allegedly anomalous distribution of Social Amelioration Program (SAP) cash assistance.
The suspect is identified as Danilo Flores y Ramos, 66,village councilor of Barangay San Agustin, who was seen in a viral social media video collecting half of the cash subsidy being distributed to low income residents who are recipients of SAP aid.
According to police report, the allegation against Flores was confirmed through the viral video showing he collected half of the P 6,500 cash aid from the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
In the video, Flores was shown instructing the recipients of cash subsidy that they would only be given the cash aid of P3,000, while the remaining P3,500 would be given to the town mayor for distribution to those who did not qualify for the SAP financial assistance.
The suspect is now under the custodial facility of the Hagonoy police and facing criminal charges for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
President Duterte was aware of the action made by Flores and cursed him in a live television for corrupting funds allocated to the affected people in the midst of the pandemic.
“Katulad nalang nitong si Kagawad Danilo Flores ng San Agustin, Hagonoy, Bulacan, ang p*t*ng in* m* nakuha ka pa ng television na hinihingi mo (yung SAP),” Duterte said.
“Ikaw may trabaho ka na, kagawad ka, ang p*t*ng in* kukunin mo pa yung pera ng mahirap, I’d like to presume that you were elected because your constituents find you to be a man of integrity and honesty and you can perform,” the President added.
In a talk with Punto!, Flores said Duterte did not know his version of the story and expressed willingness to explain his side in a proper forum.
Meanwhile, in an interview, Hagonoy Mayor Raulito Manlapaz denied any involvement in the activities of Flores and he said that he has no idea why the village councilor mentioned his name in the viral video.
Manlapaz said he was considering filing appropriate charges against Flores and would consult with his legal advisers.
