PRE-PLANNED, SYSTEMATIC: DSWD probes ‘orchestrated’ AICS aid cuts in Iloilo City

By Jennifer P. Rendon

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) expressed doubt that the reported controversy involving the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program in Iloilo City may not be an isolated incident but part of a pre-planned, systematic, and orchestrated practice.

Following multiple complaints of unauthorized deductions from AICS payouts, the DSWD central office deployed a fact-finding and investigation team to verify the claims and identify those responsible.

“This is the first time we’ve formed a fact-finding team here in Iloilo City to assess the scale of the issue and file cases against those behind it,” DSWD Assistant Secretary Paul Ledesma said in a media briefing.

Ledesma, who is leading the three-member team, said he has received numerous messages over the past two days indicating that the alleged scheme has been happening for some time.

“In fact, they’re telling me that in almost all payouts, daw naandan, nakasanayan na,” he said.

According to Ledesma, the unauthorized deductions appear to be a long-running practice executed at the barangay level.

“If it’s pre-planned, systemic, and orchestrated, I can only assume there’s a command and control group behind it,” he said.

He declined to confirm whether high-ranking local politicians are involved.

“What I can confirm is that almost all — about 99.9 percent — of the statements we gathered yesterday named barangay officials,” Ledesma said.

Complainants claimed there was a “uniform” explanation from officials regarding the need to cut the aid.

“If it were an isolated case, the reasons would vary,” he said. “But this shows a pattern. Some said they were told the money would be redistributed to those not on the official list. That’s still illegal. By its nature, AICS should be given to an individual in a crisis situation.”

The investigation revealed that at least 16 barangays in the Jaro and Arevalo districts were implicated in the alleged scheme.

So far, 11 complainants from eight barangays have been interviewed by the team.

According to earlier reports and corroborated testimonies, several beneficiaries were initially given PHP 10,000 in cash aid but were allegedly told to return PHP 8,000 and, in some cases, even PHP 9,000.

“In some cases, they were asked to return PHP 9,000 and later given back PHP 1,000,” Ledesma said. “That 80 percent cut seems to be the common practice.”

He added that some beneficiaries were told they needed to agree to the deductions to be included on the list.

“If you’re amenable to that, there’s an agreement,” he said. “That’s what we want to uncover — who’s behind this and how it’s being carried out.”

The fact-finding team includes a former Office of the Ombudsman investigator and a former Department of Justice prosecutor.

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian ordered the probe and expressed intent to personally visit Iloilo City to oversee developments.

“Secretary Gatchalian really wants to file charges,” Ledesma said. “He’s serious about getting to the bottom of this.”

Gatchalian has given the team 30 days to complete the investigation and file appropriate cases, though Ledesma said they may finish sooner.