Ex-DSWD official convicted for misuse of P5 milion pork’

MANILA, Philippines —  The Sandiganbayan has found former Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) official Honorita Bayudan guilty of malversation and graft over the misuse of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) allocation of former Pasay representative Consuelo Dy in 2007. 

In an 88-page decision, the anti-graft court sentenced Bayudan to up to 18 years in prison for malversation of public funds under Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code and up to 10 years for violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

She was also fined P5 million, representing the amount malversed, and perpetually disqualified from holding public office.

Bayudan was likewise ordered to return her retirement benefits. 

The charges stemmed from Dy’s P8-million PDAF allocation for the DSWD’s Comprehensive Integrated Delivery of Social Services Program in 2007. 

The money was released to Unlad Pinoy Organization Inc. (UPOI) for the skills training and livelihood assistance of indigent Pasay residents.

Bayudan, who was then director of the DSWD-National Capital Region, signed two disbursement vouchers that resulted in the release of the P5 million in two tranches – P1.5 million and P3.5 million – on the same day in March 2007, even though the memorandum of agreement and a circular of the Commission on Audit required staggered releases. 

The court, however, found that the registration of UPOI as a social welfare and development agency was “marred with irregularities.”

It was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission only in February 2007, days before the agreement was signed. 

The organization was neither licensed nor accredited by the DSWD.

Bayudan approved its registration based solely on an assessment report, the Sandiganbayan pointed out.