Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian has initiated an investigation into reports suggesting that Socorro Bayanihan Services was purportedly collecting government-issued cash grants from its followers.
This action came in response to Senator Risa Hontiveros’ public disclosure of alleged abuses committed by Socorro Bayanihan Services against its members.
The investigation aims to determine the integrity of these reports, ensure the proper distribution and use of government-issued cash grants, and address any potential abuses or irregularities in the process.
“We have taken stock of the privilege speech of the good senator, Madame Chair, and we took inventory immediately of how many 4Ps households we have there. But obviously, these are initial numbers because it could not be in just one sitio but in more sitios,” Gatchalian said during a Senate hearing Wednesday.
Secretary Rex Gatchalian highlighted the significance of the issue by pointing out that 74 households in Sitio Kapihan and 503 households in Barangay Siring are beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.
“We’ve already spoken about getting our city links and our municipal links to pry into the well-being of these 4Ps beneficiaries in that area,” he added.
DSWD to probe cash grants going to Socorro group
DSWD will extend its investigation to include the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) distributed in the Caraga Administrative Region (Region 13), particularly in areas influenced by the alleged cult, Socorro Bayanihan Services.
Secretary Rex Gatchalian emphasized the principle that the DSWD follows, which is that “what is for the beneficiary is for the beneficiary” in their programs.
“It’s against the creed of the Department when may tumabas, no matter kung sino man ‘yan (for someone to make a cut, no matter who it is), no government official, no private individual can take what is given directly to the beneficiary,” he said.
In a privilege speech on September 18, Senator Risa Hontiveros presented cases of alleged rape, sexual abuse, child abuse, forced labor, and forced marriages involving Socorro Bayanihan Services, Inc. to the Senate.
Under the leadership of Jey Rence Quilario, who goes by the alias Senior Agila, the organisation was reported to have 3,560 members, including 1,587 children, situated in Sitio Kapihan, Socorro.
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