Cabral, 4 others charged in PDAF scam

MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the filing of charges against former Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) secretary Esperanza Cabral and dismissed North Cotabato vice governor Gregorio Ipong over their alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam.

In a 32-page resolution recently signed by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, Cabral and Ipong were ordered charged before the Sandiganbayan with two counts each of violation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and one count each of malversation of public funds under the Revised Penal Code.

Cabral and Ipong were also ordered charged with the complex crime of malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents.

Cabral insisted yesterday that she did not benefit from any PDAF projects and that the contracts she signed all followed legal processes undertaken by her staff.

She also denied personally knowing Ipong.

Also ordered charged were DSWD undersecretary Mateo Montaño and DSWD chief accountant Leonila Hayahay as well as private individual Roberto Solon of the non-government organization (NGO) Economic and Social Cooperation for Local Development Foundation Inc. (ECOSOC).

Conspiracy?

The charges stemmed from the allegedly anomalous utilization of Ipong’s P9.4-million Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel for 2007 during his term as representative of North Cotabato’s second district.

Based on the ombudsman’s investigation, Ipong personally chose the DSWD and ECOSOC to implement supposed livelihood and medical assistance projects for 75 of the poorest of the poor families in his legislative district.

The beneficiaries denied receiving P120,000 worth of assistance and local officials said the projects were never implemented.

The ombudsman said Ipong chose ECOSOC despite its financial incapacity to carry out a multi-million peso project due to its measly capital of P56,000.

The projects were also awarded to the suppliers without public bidding, in violation of the Government Procurement Reform Act.

The ombudsman also cited a letter submitted to the Commission on Audit by ECOSOC’s board of trustees denying knowledge of any transactions between the NGO and DSWD, saying “the persons involved must have used their NGO for their own personal and unauthorized purpose.”

Morales said Cabral “prepared, reviewed and entered into the memorandum of agreement governing the implementation of the projects.”

The ombudsman said the crime would not have been committed without Cabral and the other respondents’ conspiracy with Ipong.

The ombudsman also found Ipong and Montaño guilty of grave misconduct and ordered them dismissed from service, perpetually disqualified from holding public office and the forfeiture of their retirement benefits.

Since Ipong stepped down in November 2016 over an another case, the ombudsman said the penalty is equivalent to a fine equivalent to one year of his salary.

The ombudsman issued a dismissal order in October 2016 and charged Ipong with grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service in connection with the alleged misuse of P10 million of his PDAF in 2007 coursed through another NGO, Aaron Foundation of the Philippines Inc. (AFPI).

In a resolution released to the media yesterday, the ombudsman denied Ipong’s motion for reconsideration on his dismissal and criminal indictment in October.

The ombudsman maintained that Ipong personally endorsed AFPI to be the implementer of his supposed livelihood projects despite the NGO’s dubious track record and lack of business permit. – With Mayen Jaymalin