The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) 6 will conduct an investigation on barangay officials in Iloilo City accused of anomalous distribution of “ayuda” (cash aid) should the Central Office orders a probe.

The cash aid was for beneficiaries of the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

According to the legal officer of DILG 6, they already received a report from DILG-Iloilo City but is subject for verification. The agency has not yet received a formal complaint.

“If we are asked by our Central Office to verify any information regarding this matter, then of course we will verify. Our field offices are also submitting reports sa amin. Pero as of now, (I cannot) prematurely disclose any information being gathered by our field officers. I do not have the liberty to discuss as of the moment,” Atty. Junine Wednesday Java, legal officer of DILG 6, said.

As of this writing, the agency has not received a request from DSWD, or a court order, to help in the investigation.

“I think more than ever, needed talaga ang accountability ng ating officials and considering we have supervision over elected officials, binabantayan and mino-monitor talaga namin,” Java added.

To recall, DSWD Assistant Secretary for Regional Operations Paul Ledesma disclosed to GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas that a complaint will be filed against 13 of 17 barangay officials.

These barangay officials are from the Districts of Jaro and Arevalo.

One of barangays earlier reported involved in the controversy is Barangay Quezon, Arevalo. However, according to their “punong barangay” (barangay chairman), he is confident he and his fellow officials have no hand on the alleged cuts made to the cash aid.

“Kalmado ako dyan. Wala akong kinalaman dyan. Malinis ako na wala kahit limang sentimo na kinuha dyan at ang aking mga barangay official, malinis, walang pinakialaman sa ganyang benepisyo,” said Barangay Quezon Chairman Visamin Cañal.