MANILA - Former Caloocan City Rep. Luis Asistio is facing trial for graft, malversation and malversation through falsification of public documents before the Sandiganbayan over the alleged misuse of P8 million of his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), the Office of the Ombudsman said Tuesday.

The Ombudsman said it found probable cause to charge Asistio, along with former Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral and three others, for supposedly non-existent projects involving “various medical supplies and soldering parts, meals, chemicals for fumigation, diesel, baby oil, alcohol bottles, tarpaulins, t-shirts and kit bags” more than 10 years ago.

Also indicted were DSWD officials Mateo Montaño and Leonila Hayahay, and a certain Cenon Mayor of the Kaloocan Assistance Council, Inc (KACI).

The case is the latest to be elevated to the anti-graft court that stemmed from the multibillion-peso "pork barrel" scam, a fund diversion scheme allegedly involving lawmakers and businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles' fake non-government organizations.

In a statement, the Ombudsman said P8 million of Asistio's pork barrel funds were transferred through the DSWD to KACI as part of the Comprehensive Integrated Delivery of Social Services program from 2006 to 2007.

But investigation 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 Asistio’s office,” the Ombudsman said.

The Commission on Audit also found that KACI's selection as a PDAF recipient was not compliant with government procurement rules.

“The funds were instead diverted to Asistio's possession and control, through KACI, an NGO that is not financially capable to implement the livelihood projects,” the Ombudsman added.

In a related administrative case, Montano was found guilty of grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service and was ordered dismissed.

He was also meted the accessory penalties of forfeiture of retirement benefits, perpetual disqualification from holding public office, cancellation of eligibility, and being barred from taking the civil service examination.

In case of separation from the service, the penalty is convertible to a fine equivalent to Montaño’s salary for one year.