Ex-Caloocan solon, Arroyo’s ex-DSWD Secretary face malversation, graft raps

MANILA, Philippines  – A former Caloocan City lawmaker and a former social welfare secretary are facing graft and malversation complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman for the alleged misuse of the representative’s Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF).

Named in the complaint filed by the Ombudsman’s Public Assistance and Corruption Prevention Office were:

– Former Caloocan Representative Mary Mitzi Cajayon

-Former Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Esperanza Cabral

According to the complaint, Cajayon’s P10-million PDAF allegedly went to ghost projects.

Cabral is the DSWD Secretary and former Health Secretary for President Gloria Arroyo, who is detained for plunder over a charity funds mess.

The Ombudsman complaint stemmed from the misuse of Cajayon’s PDAF for financial assistance to Caloocan residents, such as hospitalization, transportation, calamity, death and burial expenses, and small-scale livelihood, socio-cultural and small-scale infrastructure assistance, but which never went to the intended beneficiaries.

In May 2009, Cajayon wrote a letter to Cabral endorsing the P10 million project to Kalookan Assistance Council Inc. (KACI) as implementor even if it is not a licensed and accredited “people’s organization,” the Ombudsman said.

The implementation of the project was marred with violations of the utilization of the PDAF, such as splitting of contracts in procurement, falsified receipts and delivery receipts, among others, the Ombudsman said.

The beneficiaries also denied receiving any financial assistance, it added.

The Ombudsman also said KACI has an outstanding and unliquidated cash advances worth P23.1 million from 2006 to 2007, thus disqualifying it from receiving any more funds by the Commission on Audit.

Besides Cajayon and Cabral, also facing malversation and graft complaints are DSWD Undersecretary Mateo Montaño, Assistant Secretary Vilma Cabrera, Director III Pacita Sarino, former Chief Accountant Leonila Hayahay, and KACI President Cenon Mayor.

Meanwhile, facing administrative complaints of grave misconduct and gross neglect of duty are Montaño, Cabrera and Sarino. Mayor also faces a complaint of malversation and falsification of public documents.