Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian has ordered the regional director of the DSWD Field Office 11 in Davao Region to assist in filing charges against a barangay official who allegedly deducted Php8,500 from a Php10,000 cash aid given to a pregnant woman.
The victim, identified as Anne Villarin, was a beneficiary of the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program. She received Php10,000 worth of cash aid during the June 6 payout in Davao. An unnamed individual later instructed Villarin to remit the full amount to her barangay, only for her to discover that Php8,500 had been withheld, leaving her with just Php1,500.
Secretary Gatchalian emphasized that DSWD cash grants are solely for the beneficiaries. “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,” he said.
Upon learning of Villarin’s plight online, the DSWD immediately sent social workers to verify her complaint. Following this, Gatchalian ordered Davao Regional Director Vanessa Goc-ong to accompany Villarin in filing both administrative and criminal complaints against the involved barangay official.
The DSWD Field Office 11 will not only assist Villarin in filing her complaint but will also serve as a co-complainant, as the Php10,000 came from the AICS program of the Department.
“Let this be a warning to all. DSWD cash grants are for beneficiaries alone. Nobody, not even government officials, should take part of these cash aids,” Gatchalian stressed.
Villarin’s video denouncing the injustice done to her by her barangay immediately went viral and now has 1.7 million views. On Saturday (June 8), Regional Director Goc-ong was swamped by queries by the local media regarding the viral video of Villarin.
Following the DSWD chief’s directive, Director Goc-ong assured Villarin that social workers will accompany her in filing the appropriate charges against the erring barangay official. The complainant has been secured by the DSWD’s Davao Field Office, ensuring that Villarin can file her case and testify against the concerned barangay officials without being threatened.
Personnel from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Philippine National Police (PNP) will accompany the DSWD and complainant Villarin in the filing of appropriate charges on Monday (June 10).