Former Caloocan representative Asistio charged for ‘inexistent projects’ using pork funds

THE OFFICE of the Ombudsman has found probable cause to charge former Caloocan representative Luis “Baby” A. Asistio for “inexistent projects” he approved using his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), or the pork barrel.

In a statement, the Ombudsman said Mr. Asistio, who served as Caloocan 2nd district congressman from 2004 to 2010, will face trial for four counts of violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act No. 3019), two counts of malversation, and two counts of malversation through falsification of public documents.

Charged alongside Mr. Asistio are former Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Esperanza I. Cabral; former DSWD Undersecretary Mateo Montaño; former DSWD chief accountant Leonila Hayahay; and Cenon Mayor of the nongovernment organization (NGO) Kaloocan Assistance Council, Inc. (KACI).

The Ombudsman said Mr. Asistio “continuously endorsed the implementation of his PDAF-funded Comprehensive Integrated Delivery of Social Services (CIDSS) programs to KACI. From 2006 to 2007, a total of P15 million covered by two Special Allotment Release Orders was taken from his PDAF and released to the DSWD as implementing agency. Of the P15 million, P8 million was transferred to KACI through the DSWD.”

The funds were allegedly used to procure various medical supplies and soldering parts, meals, chemicals for fumigation, diesel, baby oil, alcohol bottles, tarpaulins, t-shirts and kit bags.

Upon investigation, the Ombudsman found that KACI’s incorporators and officers are the congressman’s former political coordinators, volunteers and supporters and that its office was located on the same property as Mr. Asistio’s office.

The Commission on Audit (CoA) also found that the selection of the NGO was not compliant with policies. Further, KACI either submitted questionable documents or failed to liquidate the utilization of funds.

Mr. Asistio did not submit a counter-affidavit during the Ombudsman’s preliminary investigation of the case.

“The misappropriation of the PDAF allotted to Asistio was coursed through a scheme he conceived involving various projects and forms of assistance in his district supposed to have funded by his PDAF, which projects turned out to be non-existent or ghost. The funds were instead diverted to his possession and control, through KACI, an NGO that is not financially capable to implement the livelihood projects,” Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales said.