The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Monday, June 10, 2024, ordered the filing of charges against a barangay official in Davao region who allegedly kept back a big portion of the cash assistance given to a beneficiary of the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS).

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian has directed the director of the DSWD-Davao to assist the complainant in filing administrative and criminal charges against the official involved. DSWD will serve as a co-complainant.

DSWD did not disclose the name of the official and the barangay.

The complainant, a pregnant woman, claimed that the P10,000 cash aid she received during the AICS payout on June 6, 2024, was allegedly kept back by the barangay official.

Investigation showed that upon receiving the P10,000 cash aid, an unidentified individual allegedly told the woman to report to the barangay and remit the P10,000. The following day, she went back to the barangay only to find out that the official allegedly withheld P8,500 and she was only given P1,500.

“As soon as we saw the complaining victim online, we sent our social workers to see her and they were able to verify her complaint about the original Php10,000 cash aid becoming a measly P1,500 after it was remitted to her barangay,” Secretary Gatchalian said.

The woman took to social media to express her sentiments and the video went viral until it reached the attention of DSWD.

“Nasaktan ang beneficiary na kinuha ng barangay yung pera niya. Nag-appeal sa DSWD to get back the money na kinuha from her plus request for assistance on her impending child birth,” DSWD-Davao Director, Vanessa Goc-ong, was quoted as saying.

Gatchalian reminded the public that DSWD cash grants are for beneficiaries alone.

“Nobody, not even government officials, should take part of these cash aids,” Gatchalian said.

“We are calling on all beneficiaries to never allow anybody to give their cash grants to them. Their grants are for them. And if somebody tries to get it, what they should do is report to the DSWD rather than give the cash grant,” Gatchalian added.

| via Alwen Saliring / Photo courtesy of the complainant via DSWD