The Department of Social and Welfare and Development on Wednesday said it is investigating the alleged collection of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps cash grants and other social welfare benefits by a supposed cult in Surigao del Norte.

During a Senate subcommittee on Finance's deliberation for the P209 billion budget of the DSWD, Secretary Rex Gatchalian told lawmakers that 74 households in Sitio Kapihan, Surigao del Norte, are beneficiaries of the 4Ps.

However, the number could be higher as this only covered one sitio.

"We've already spoken about getting our city and municipal links to pry into the well-being of these 4Ps beneficiaries in that area," he said.

The DSWD chief said that his department is "taking seriously" the allegations of misuse of Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations or AICS, responding to Senator Risa Hontiveros' inquiry about how the department would rectify the alleged illegal collection of social welfare benefits intended for indigent Filipinos.

Hontiveros earlier said that Socorro Bayanihan Services sourced its funding from 4Ps, AICS, and senior citizens' pensions.

She said 40 to 60 percent of the pensions received by its members are being collected by the alleged cult and accused the group of sexually abusing minors and forcing them into marriages.

Gatchalian said he had already directed the regional office of the DSWD to look into the distribution of AICS in Caraga.

"We will look into the beneficiaries of AICS in that region, particularly zeroing in on those barangays, and sitios in the site's periphery. And then we can also do backtracking and our standard investigation tracks," he said.

He also told the panel that he would "immediately copy furnish" the committee with the findings of the 4Ps and the AICS clusters.