DSWD files misconduct, graft raps vs. barangay execs over AICS corruption

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has filed criminal and administrative complaints with the Office of the Ombudsman against 14 barangay officials in Iloilo City over alleged pocketing of government aid intended for beneficiaries of Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS).

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian led the filing of the charges on Thursday, saying these barangay officials in Jaro and Arevalo sub-district in Iloilo City harassed, if not threatened, each of the AICS beneficiaries who received P10,000.

These recipients were told to give up P8,000 to P9,000 of their aid to barangay officials in exchange for keeping the former in a supposed list of government beneficiaries.

"We are talking about payouts in November 7, 11 and 12 in 16 barangays in Iloilo City involving 14 officials whom we are filing a complaint against today. Sila 'yung supposedly pagkatapos ng payout, pag-uwi ng mga beneficiaries kinoerce nila 'yung mga benepisyaro na kunin 'yung porsyento ng payout [ng mga barangay officials]. Ang gagawin nila [na mga barangay officials], sasabihin nila, o sige, 'pag hindi ka nagbigay, wala ka na matatanggap. Wala ka na matatanggap habang buhay," Gatchalian said.

(These are the barangay officials who follow the beneficiaries after they receive the AICS payout. They coerce the beneficiaries to give them a percentage of their payout. They threaten them by saying that if you don't give me a cut, you won't receive a government aid for the rest of your life.) 

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian files administrative complaint vs . 14 brgy. officials in 16 barangays before the Ombudsman over alleged coercion of AICS beneficiaries to give up P8,000 to P9,000 of their P10,000 AICS aid to brgy officials’ pockets @gmanews pic.twitter.com/0VckI1UcLX

— Llanesca T. Panti (@llanescajourno) December 11, 2025

"May 14 tayong complainants. Sa P10,000 na ibinigay sa kanilang tulong pinansyal, pilit [nilang mga barangay officials] kunin 'yung P8,000 hanggang P9,000. Very consistent 'yung stories at 'yung mga individual, hindi sila magkakakilala dahil galing sila sa labing-anim na barangay at 'yung kuwento nila pare-parehas," Gatchalian added.

(We have 14 complainants. For a P10,000 AICS aid, these barangay officials get P8,000 to P9,000. The stories of the complainants are very consistent even if they do not know each other. They all shared similar experience of coercion.)

Gatchalian said the officials facing grave misconduct, graft, among other complaints include captains, kagawads (councilors), treasurer, and appointed officials of the barangays.

"Sa kuwento rin nila, matagal na nangyayari, nu'ng COVID-19 time pa. Pero ngayon, nagkaroon ng massive na complaint kasi dati, ang kinakaltas sa kanila, maliit lang na porsyento. Kung 10,000, mayorya nu'n, naiiwan sa kanila," Gatchalian said.

(This has been going on for a while, since the COVID-19 pandemic. Majority of the payout still goes to the beneficiaries.)

Gatchalian said those victimized by the alleged racketeering of these barangay officials included those in need of medical assistance and burial assistance.

"Pero ngayon, binaliktad, pinilit kunin 'yung mas malaking porsyento sa kanila. That's around P8,000 to P9,000. Ang natitira na lang sa kanila, halos 2,000 or 1,000. Nakakalungkot isipin. Ang tulong ng DSWD, dapat diretso sa bulsa ng mga nangangailangan. Wala dapat nakikialam diyan. Pero nare-victimize 'yung mga victims," Gatchalian said.

(But now, it has been reversed. They insist on taking a larger share of the benefit for themselves, amounting to P8,000 to P9,000. Only the remainder of the AICS payout, about P1,000 to P2,000, reaches the actual beneficiary. Assistance from the DSWD should go straight to the pockets of those in need. No one should meddle with that. With their acts, the victims are being revictimized.)

Gatchalian then called on the public to report similar instances of abusive officials, saying that DSWD would not think twice about filing complaints against the perpetrators of such racketeering schemes.

"Our logo is a big heart, but part of taking care of our people is making sure that they're protected from these types of abuses. Ang panawagan namin, one, huwag kayo magbigay [ng porsyento sa barangay officials]. At, i-report niyo sa amin, and we will take it seriously," Gatchalian added.

(Our logo is a big heart, but part of taking care of our people is making sure that they're protected from these types of abuses. Our appeal is, one, don't give cuts to these erring officials. Also, report similar acts to us, and we will take them seriously.)

According to its Facebook post, the DSWD is also preparing and evaluating criminal cases against the implicated officials amid the ongoing gathering of evidence. — VDV, GMA Integrated News