NOT ONLY Iloilo City has become the epicenter of the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) controversy.
Victorias City in Negros Occidental is now sharing the infamous spotlight — with its own version.
Hundreds of AICS beneficiaries from Barangay IX and Barangay XXI in Victorias received P10,000 in cash assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on December 9. They were jubilant — at least initially.
But when they got home, their joy quickly turned into shock. Someone confronted them and demanded that they return P8,000 — for reasons never clearly explained.
Naturally, they got angry.
Ventilating their frustration the easiest way they knew, the beneficiaries took to social media, posting furious messages that triggered an online brouhaha.
Still feeling unsatisfied, around 150 of them went to the DSWD -Negros Island Region office and filed formal complaints against those who took 80 percent of their AICS money.
And just like that, the issue exploded into hyper-local news.
WASHING HANDS
Amid the rumbling effects of the scandal, Negros Occidental 3rd District’s Cong. Javi Benitez released a statement categorically denying any involvement in the mess.
This was followed by statements from the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Victorias and Abang Lingkod party-list’s Cong. ManMan Ko also denying participation and expressing support for an investigation to unmask the syndicate allegedly behind this AICS modus.
All fine to read.
But after going through their statements, I must say: motherhood lines.
‘IMPOSSIBLE’
Now, let’s dissect the anatomy of the issue.
Enrollment of beneficiaries into the AICS program is done at the barangay level — by the captain, kagawads, treasurer, secretary, or records keeper.
Only allies typically get listed. Those not aligned with them? Often “itsapwera.”
During AICS distribution, politicians are banned from payout sites. But it’s no secret they have “runners” to ensure their enrollees receive the money.
It is hard to believe that the beneficiaries do not know who followed them home and forced them to return the P8,000. This is why I can’t understand the need for a lengthy investigation just to “identify” who orchestrated the scheme to reclaim 80 percent of the cash assistance already given to the beneficiaries.
RIDICULOUS
Can’t Victorias’ Mayor JunB Bantug, Congressman Javi, and Congressman ManMan simply summon the 150 complainants and ask them to name the suspect — or suspects?
After that, summon the suspects and confront them with the allegation.
Why the theatrics? Why the press statements? Why the spectacle of an investigation?
This logic is either ridiculous — or deliberately evasive.
Alangan man nga ang sindikato halin pa sa iban nga lugar kag nag-“pangayaw” sa Victorias para maghasik sang lagim?
‘PANGAYAW’ VS ‘TUMANDOK’
In the Iloilo City case, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian himself filed criminal and administrative complaints on December 11 against 14 individuals over an AICS-related scheme.
Of those 14, 12 were barangay officials and two were city employees.
Maybe it’s time to stop prolonging this “drama.” Calls for an investigation invite public ridicule. It is only raising more eyebrows.
The Iloilo case is a potent precedent suggesting that alleged syndicates involved in AICS manipulation are not “pangayaw” (outsiders) but, more likely, “tumandok” (locals) who know the system inside out.
NO GUESSING GAME
In sum, the AICS scandal in Victorias does not require a guessing game. Dragging this out wastes time — and may even stir unnecessary tension once suspects are formally identified and arrested.
Because once that happens, we can expect them to “sing the same song” with the same familiar artists.
And at that point, everything becomes superfluous./PN
