Caloocan judge stops Malapitan from using pork

MANILA, Philippines - A Caloocan regional trial court judge granted Friday Caloocan Mayor Enrico Echiverri’s request to stop District 1 Rep. Oscar Malapitan from using his pork barrel to fund medical coupons of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Branch 125 Judge Dionisio Sison said Malapitan and the DSWD “are hereby restrained… from issuing DSWD check and medical coupons with cash value and processing them for payment from PDAF of… Malapitan.” The acronym PDAF refers to the Priority Development Assistance Fund, often called pork barrel fund, given to congressmen.

Sison’s latest order stemmed from a petition filed by Echiverri on Wednesday, accusing Malapitan of illegally using his pork barrel by buying votes in the guise of DSWD medical vouchers. Malapitan is running against Echiverri’s son, Ricojudge, for the mayoral post.

Echiverri was joined by nine residents of Bagong Barrio, who complained about Malapitan’s scheme. In a previous interview, Malapitan denied the allegations.

Echiverri also questioned the Commission on Election’s Resolution 9660, which allowed the release of all congressmen’s pork barrel, saying it was prone to abuse and could be used to raise funds to advance their campaign.