Ex-Caloocan Second District Representative Mitch Cajayon-Uy
Sandigan acquits ex-solon of graft raps
AFTER more than half a decade of waiting in agony, the Sandiganbayan has cleared former Caloocan Second District Representative Mitch Cajayon-Uy of graft in relation to the pork barrel scam- or the Priority Development Assistance Fund.
A unanimous decision by the Sandiganbayan Second Division promulgated on November 12, 2021 acquitted Cajayon-Uy of two counts of graft, one count of malversation of funds and one count of malversation thru falsification Malversation thru for “failure of the prosecution to prove her guilt beyond reasonable doubt”.
Cajayon-Uy was unjustly accused of alleged misuse of her P10 million discretionary Priority Development Assistance Fund in May and June 2009. The complaints were filed by the Public Assistance and Corruption Prevention Office of the Office of the Ombudsman in 2015 and was subsequently filed before Sandiganbayan in 2018.
“Our acquittal today is vindication that we never committed any of the criminal allegations hurled against us. This is a testament that the criminal prosecution against me was nothing but persecution by the former administration directed at known allies of former President GMA” said Cajayon-Uy.
As a mother of three kids, Cajayon-Uy remarked that since her indictment in 2015, she and her family has faced extreme stress and sleepless nights. Furthermore, she reiterated that the selective prosecution of PDAF cases during the previous administration has besmirched their names and they have been branded corrupt despite the erroneous and unsubstantiated allegations.
She further stated that “the decision of the Sandiganbayan today, is proof that we have an effective and fair justice system in place. We commend Justice Samuel Martires’ leadership for protecting the office’s integrity by ensuring that cases are heard on their merits and not swayed by party politics. My acquittal has restored my faith in our justice system”
Now more than ever, Cajayon-Uy is relieved and motivated to continue providing genuine public service as she re-enters politics in the forthcoming 2022 elections as one of the frontrunner candidates as Caloocan City, Second District Representative.
