DSWD to charge 13 Iloilo City village officials over AICS cuts

By Jennifer P. Rendon

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is set to file various charges this week against 13 barangay officials linked to the controversial Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) aid cuts in Iloilo City.

From the initial 17 officials under review, the DSWD Fact-Finding and Investigation Team trimmed the list to 13 after its assessment.

DSWD Assistant Secretary for Regional Operations Paul Ledesma, who heads the fact-finding team, said they are still accepting complaints and will file additional charges once they receive legal documentation that would justify doing so.

All 13 village officials, who hold positions such as barangay captain, kagawad, secretary, and treasurer, will be charged with violating Republic Act 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, before the Office of the Ombudsman.

They will also face criminal charges before the Regional Trial Court in Iloilo City.

Ledesma said the charges will vary and may include robbery, estafa through deceit, coercion, and other offenses.

He said DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian will personally attend the filing of the charges.

He added that the move is intended not only as a lesson to other officials but also as a strong warning that they must not interfere with financial aid intended for individuals in crisis.

Ledesma earlier said the AICS fund shaving was “a pre-planned, systemic, and orchestrated practice.”

Based on the investigation, at least 16 barangays in the Jaro and Arevalo districts were involved in the AICS pay cuts.

As earlier reported, beneficiaries claimed they were supposed to receive PHP 10,000 in assistance.

Barangay officials allegedly demanded that they return PHP 8,000. In some cases, beneficiaries were told to “surrender” PHP 9,000. Officials later returned PHP 1,000 from the PHP 9,000 taken.

Ledesma said the 80 percent cut appeared to be the standard practice. He said there were also preconditions imposed before a beneficiary could be listed.