Ex-DSWD chief Cabral pleads not guilty in PDAF scam case

Former Social Welfare and Development Secretary Esperanza Cabral on Friday pleaded not guilty before the Sandiganbayan to charges related to the alleged misuse of Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) in 2007.

Cabral entered her plea for two counts of violation of graft, and one count each of malversation and malversation through falsification before the anti-graft court's Third Division.

Former DSWD officials Mateo Montano and Leonila Hayahay also pleaded not guilty.

All three are co-accused in the case of former North Cotabato Representative and dismissed Vice Governor Gregorio Ipong.

The case arose when Ipong "unilaterally chose and endorsed" Economic and Social Cooperation for Local Development Foundation Inc. (ECOSOC) as project partner for his Integrated Social Development Project for his constituents in the second district of Cotabato.

Ombudsman investigators, however, found that ECOSOC was not qualified to undertake the project which was later found to be non-existent.

Ipong and Cabral also allegedly entered into a memorandum of agreement with ECOSOC without public bidding as required under government procurement rules.

The case involved two transactions — one worth P6.5 million and another worth P2.8 million — for the non-government organization to undertake the project.

The Ombudsman alleged these transactions caused "undue injury to the government and/or give unwarranted benefits and advantage" to ECOSOC.

Cabral's counsel appealed for the Sandiganbayan to adopt his client's provisional arraignment.

Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang, however, denied the proposal, saying "it is a policy of the court to require the accused to undergo a regular arraignment."

The arraignment of Ipong is slated for December 1.

Yap arraignment

Meanwhile, the Sandiganbayan reset the arraignment of Bohol Rep. Arthur Yap to January 19 due to a pending quashal motion and motion for reconsideration on the finding of probable cause.

Yap is a co-accused in the case of former Misamis Occidental Rep. Marina Clarete over her alleged misuse of P65 million worth of PDAF from 2007 to 2009.

Yap, who was then serving as Agriculture secretary, is facing two counts of graft and one count each of malversation and malversation through falsification of public documents.

Cabral, also a former Health secretary, and Yap were both Cabinet appointees of Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during her nine-year presidency. — MDM, GMA News