A former legislator and a former Cabinet member have been charged at the Sandigandbayan with alleged misuse of P10-million pork barrel in 2009.
The Ombudsman filed charges against former Caloocan City congresswoman Mary Mitzi Cajayon and former Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral.
Cajayon, who represented the Second District of Caloocan in the House of Representatives, is currently the executive director of the Council for Women and Children.
Cajayon and Cabral were charged with two counts of graft, one count of malversation, and one count of the complex crime of malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents.
In addition, the Ombudsman charged former DSWD Undersecretary Mateo Montaño, Assistant Secretary Vilma Cabrera, Assistant Bureau Director Pacita Sarino, and accountant Leonila Hayahay, as well as Kalookan Assistance Council, Inc., president Cenon Mayor.
Cajayon appointed KACI as her partner in delivering several Integrated Delivery of Social Services projects, which were funded by her Priority Development Assistance Fund or pork barrel and implemented through the DSWD.
Ombudsman prosecutors said KACI was unaccredited and unqualified to implement the projects and Cajayon chose the foundation without public bidding.
Prosecutors claimed that even before the signing of the memorandum of agreement on May 20, 2009, Mayor already got hold of the funds and distributed burial and financial assistance to supposed beneficiaries.
The complaint also said payment of cash aid was also questionable because of the lack of supporting documents.
Prosecutors accused Mayor of illegally using 20 percent of the project cost as KACI’s administrative expenses and even receiving payment from the released funds.
On the other hand, Cabral was charged for entering into an agreement with Cajayon and Mayor for the project. Hayahay and Montaño were accused of attesting to the completeness of the documents and approving the payments to KACI, respectively.
Sarino allegedly failed to thoroughly review the liquidation reports, while Cabrera allegedly failed to monitor the status of the projects and the liquidation of the funds.
Prosecutors recommended that a bail of P300,000 for each of the accused.