Ex-DSWD chief Cabral faces graft for PDAF misuse

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman filed graft charges against former Social Work and Development Secretary Esperanza Cabral over alleged misuse of legislative funds.

Charges were also filed against former Caloocan City Rep. Mary Mitz Cajayon in connection with the alleged misuse of Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) amounting to P10 million in 2009.

Aside from Cabral and Cajayon, the Ombudsman filed similar cases against former Department of Social Work and Development Undersecretary Mateo Montaño, Assistant Secretary Vilma Cabrera, Director III Pacita Sarino, former Chief Accountant Leonila Hayahay, and Cenon Mayor, president of Kalookan Assistance Council Inc (KACI).

Charges of grave misconduct and gross neglect of duty were also filed filed against respondents Montaño, Cabrera and Sarino, with prayer for preventive suspension pending investigation. 

Mayor, meanwhile, faces malversation and falsification of public documents charges.

The complaint claimed that in 2009 Mayor submitted a project design on the implementation of a comprehensive and integrated delivery of social services (CIDSS) targeting poor families in Caloocan City as beneficiaries of financial assistance.

The assistance consisted of medical, hospitalization, transportation, calamity, death and burial expenses, as well as small-scale livelihood, socio-cultural and small-scale infrastructure assistance.

In May 5, 2009, Cajayon allegedly wrote to Cabral, personally endorsing the project and identifying KACI as implementing body despite its lack of license and accreditation as a "people's organization."

On the same day, DSWD and KACI signed a memorandum of agreement to a first tranche of funds amounting to P3 million released on May 21, 2009. 

Out of the amount, P600,000 was utilized as overhead costs and administrative charges of KACI while the remaining balance was used to buy tents, medicines, trophies and balls worth P999,996 while

About P1.4 million was also used as financial and burial assistance.

In July 2009, the second tranche of P7 million was released to KACI and was unliquidated.

The complaint stated that several violations in the utilization of the PDAF, such as splitting of contracts in the procurement of goods, falsified receipts and delivery receipts, and several beneficiaries denied receiving any financial assistance.

It added that KACI has outstanding and unliquidated cash advances totaling P23.1 million for 2006 and 20007, disqualifying it from receiving more funds.