Iloilo City barangay, local execs face raps over AICS

Fourteen Iloilo City officials are facing administrative and criminal charges for allegedly coercing residents into giving up a large portion of their cash aid.

- By DAPHNE GALVEZ

Charges of grave misconduct, graft and corruption, abuse of authority and violation of the code of conduct have been filed against 14 local officials for allegedly seizing the cash aid of beneficiaries of the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program.

Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian yesterday led the filing of the complaints before the ombudsman.

“About P8,000 to P9,000 were forcibly taken from each beneficiary, leaving them with only P1,000 to P2,000,” Gatchalian said.

The suspects threatened residents with the removal of their names from the list of beneficiaries if they refused to hand over their cash aid, he said.

“Victims of crises are revictimized. Aside from being a victim of their circumstances, they are revictimized by people of authority," he lamented.

The ombudsman should preventively suspend the 14 officials to prevent further injury and interference in the probe, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) urged.