Ex-Caloocan Mayor Malonzo files graft rap vs Rep. Malapitan

Former Caloocan Mayor Rey Malonzo files graft and malversation complaints against Congressman Oscar Malapitan before the Office of the Ombudsman on Tuesday, July 16, 2024. INQUIRER.net / Faith Argosino

MANILA, Philippines — Former Caloocan Mayor Rey Malonzo filed graft and malversation complaints against Representative Oscar “Oca” Malapitan in relation to the latter’s alleged misuse of his Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) amounting to P8 million from 2007 to 2009.

In his complaint, Malonzo claimed that Malapitan, the first district representative of Caloocan, and five former officials of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) allegedly violated Section (a), (e), and (g) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and Article 172 (2) of the Revised Penal Code (malversation of public funds).

READ: Malapitan denies anomalies in tablet purchase

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Malonzo claimed that P8 million was illegally transferred to Kaloocan Assistance Council Inc. (KACI) despite being unqualified for PDAF transfer, citing a report from the Commission on Audit (COA).

According to Malonzo, a similar case was filed by the Office of the Ombudsman, wherein it found “probable cause” for violations related to graft, malversation of public funds, and falsification of public documents in 2017 but it was reversed in 2019 due to “insufficiency of evidence.”

“Similar to the case of Janet Lim Napoles, Congressman Oca Malapitan endorsed and used an NGO to embezzle government funds, a known modus used by politicians during that time. With the new evidence presented, I hope that the Ombudsman will indict the named respondents and let them face trial for graft and malversation,” Malonzo’s statement read.

“Documents gathered from COA revealed that the amounts in question that were released to KACI remain unliquidated after more than a decade. The COA Special Audits Office Report No. 2012-034 on PDAF, which was not previously considered in the case, outlined several discrepancies in the documents submitted and found illegalities in the transaction,” it added.

A 2021 report also showed that Malonzo’s son then-Caloocan City Councilor Christopher PJ Malonzo, Marylou Nubla, and Alexander Mangasar also filed a graft case against Malapitan, former Education Undersecretary Alain del Pascua, and former Caloocan City Treasurer Analiza Mendiola.

The complaint stemmed from the alleged purchasing of 64,000 “unusable” tablets worth P320 million without proper bidding.

INQUIRER.net sought the side of Malapitan on the case, but he has yet to reply as of posting.

Caloocan City Public Information Office chief Princess Garcia said they believe the complaints against Malapitan and other succeeding complaints that Malonzo will file against the lawmaker are all “politically motivated.”