CALOOCAN CITY, May 23 (PIA) -- On the first week implementation of the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) in Metro Manila, a senior Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) official said heads will continue to roll for erring barangay officials involved in cash aid anomalies.

During Saturday's edition of the Laging Handa public briefing hosted by the Presidential Communications and affiliate state media, DILG spokesperson Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said an additional 15 cases are being prepared nationwide, that is on top of 42 cases filed recently against barangay officials allegedly involved in the anomalous distribution of government's social amelioration program (SAP).

"[Nasa] 42 na mga barangay officials sa buong bansa ay nahaharap na ngayon sa kasong kriminal," Malaya said, expressing disgust on the acts committed considering that the cash subsidy was intended for the poorest of the poor families and most vulnerable sectors.

"Mayroon pang 15 kasong inihahanda na rin," he said, as the Philippine National Police (PNP) prepares to file the criminal cases against barangay officials before the Department of Justice (DOJ).

"At 93 na under investigation," he added, explaining that the PNP is currently conducting a case build-up against these barangay officials after 400 complaints of graft and corrupt practices were filed.

"Sa huling tala po ng kapulisan, hihigit 400 na ang nagsampa ng reklamo laban sa kapitan o barangay officials na sangkot sa katiwalian," the official said.

Malaya, however, reminded complainants to directly file their protests with the PNP.

"Kapag issue na ng katiwalian, sa pulis na po diretso," he said the charges would be filed following investigation conducted by the PNP's Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG). (PIA NCR)