TUMAUINI, Isabela: Some of the village chiefs suspended for six months had kept their silence on the issue while some had blamed their village councilors, who were allegedly behind the issue of pocketing a portion of social amelioration program assistance to selected villagers in Cagayan Valley.

Barangay Balug chief Domingo Tagufa, from a village in Tumauini town, has denied pocketing any money and delisting on his own volition some Department of Social Welfare and Development-qualified beneficiaries.