Cajayon, Cabral charged over P10-M PDAF mess

Council for the Welfare of Children executive director Mary Mitzi Cajayon has been charged in the Sandiganbayan for the alleged misuse of P10 million in pork barrel funds when she was the representative of Caloocan City’s second district in 2009.

Cajayon and former Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral were charged with two counts of graft, one count of malversation and one count of malversation through falsification.

Also charged were former Social Welfare Undersecretary Mateo Montaño, Assistant Secretary Vilma Cabrera, Assistant Bureau Director Pacita Sarino, and accountant Leonila Hayahay, as well as Kalookan Assistance Council Inc. (Kaci) president Cenon Mayor.

Cajayon endorsed Kaci as a partner nongovernment organization for her Comprehensive Integrated Delivery of Social Services projects, which were funded by her Priority Development Assistance Fund allocations.

Ombudsman prosecutors said Kaci was unaccredited to take on the project and Cajayon chose the foundation without the benefit of public bidding. —Vince F. Nonato