Politics · Philippines Bureau
Ex-DSWD Official Convicted in P5-Million Pork Barrel Scam
The Sandiganbayan has found a former Department of Social Welfare and Development official guilty of graft and malversation involving P5 million in discretionary funds meant for low-income residents of Pasay City. The conviction marks another case of misused public money from the controversial pork barrel system.
LSN Philippines ·
The Sandiganbayan's Fifth Division handed down the guilty verdict on October 1 against Honorita Bayudan, the former DSWD official accused of misappropriating funds earmarked for impoverished families in Pasay City during 2007.
Bayudan was found guilty on charges of graft and malversation, crimes involving the illegal diversion and misuse of public funds. The P5 million in question came from the discretionary fund commonly referred to as "pork barrel," which politicians and officials have historically used for various projects and programs in their areas.
The case is part of a broader pattern of investigations into the misuse of pork barrel allocations in the Philippines. The funds were specifically intended to benefit low-income residents in Pasay City but were diverted for unauthorized purposes under Bayudan's watch.
The conviction underscores ongoing efforts by the judiciary to hold government officials accountable for the improper use of public resources. The Sandiganbayan, a court specialized in hearing cases involving high-ranking officials and public figures, has been central to prosecuting graft-related cases stemming from the controversial pork barrel system.