Caloocan mayor rapped over b-day packs

A 69-YEAR-OLD woman has filed a complaint for plunder and graft in the Office of the Ombudsman against Caloocan Mayor Oscar Malapitan over the purchase of overpriced birthday gifts for the city’s senior citizens.

In a three-page sworn affidavit dated April 22, Teresita Manalo claimed she received only one gift pack from Malapitan’s office since he was sworn into office in 2013.

Manalo said she learned that the city council had approved a budget of P2,000 for each package containing a 500-gram pack of spaghetti noodles, a pack of tomato sauce, a small box of cheese and a can of corned beef. But when checked in a supermarket, the items were only worth P200.

Since there were about 350,000 registered senior citizens in Caloocan, the annual distribution of gifts packs was overpriced by P49 million each year since 2013, she claimed.

Sought for comment, Malapitan said the case was politically motivated, adding that everything went through the proper bidding process and was subjected to the procurement law.

“The complainant, in her affidavit, even admitted she is an Echiverri supporter,” he added, referring to his rival for the mayoral post, Rep. Enrico Echiverri.