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March 4, 2016
Graft and bribery charges have been filed before the Sandiganbayan against five former congressmen, suspected pork barrel scam brains Janet Napoles, and several government officials and representatives of non-government organizations in connection with the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scandal.
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales approved the filing of criminal charges against former congressmen Ruffy Biazon of Muntinlupa City, Rodolfo Valencia of Oriental Mindoro, Marc Douglas Cagas IV of Davao del Sur, Arrel Olaño of Davao del Norte, Arthur Pingoy Jr. of South Cotabato after denying their motions for reconsideration. The charges were based on the complaint submitted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and lawyer Levito Baligod, former counsel of principal whistleblower Benhur Luy.
Also charged were officials of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), including Chairperson Zenaida Ducut, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Technology Resource Center (TRC), National Business Corporation (Nabcor), and representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Most of these government and NGO officials were previously implicated in other PDAF cases.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Office of the Ombudsman said Biazon anomalously utilized his 2007 PDAF by endorsing P3 million to the Philippine Social Foundation, Inc. (PSFI), an NGO associated and controlled by Napoles.
Biazon allegedly received P1.95 million as “rebates” through his agent, Ducut, his former colleague in the House.
Valencia was charged with three counts of malversation and three counts of anti-graft law violations for alleged misuse of his P7-million PDAF from 2007 to 2009. He allegedly received kickbacks amounting at least P2.4 million from his PDAF-funded projects in 2008.
Cagas faces charges for two counts of malversation and two counts of violation of the anti-graft law. He and his co-respondents allegedly failed to refute the sworn statements of witnesses and many documents which show that they conspired to repeatedly raid the public treasury.
He allegedly received commissions amounting to at least P5.5 million from his PDAF-funded projects from 2007 to 2008.
Olaño was charged with three counts of malversation, and three counts of anti-graft law violations and direct bribery.
Investigation found that out of Olaño’s PDAF of P7.97 million, he allegedly received kickbacks of at least P3.1 million.
The Ombudsman ruled that Olano’s projects on financial assistance for farm implements, livelihood materials and training turned out to be “ghost.”
Both Pingoy and Ducut were charged with two counts of direct bribery, and four counts of malversation and violation of the anti-graft law. The charges were based on the alleged illegal fund releases of Pingoy’s PDAF of at least P20.91 million, out of which he allegedly received P7 million in kickbacks.
Investigation found that the solons’ projects on financial assistance for farm implements, livelihood materials and training were “ghost” projects.
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Read more at http://www.mb.com.ph/5-ex-solons-slapped-with-pdaf-charges/#7TyZCEGmiBOejPrt.99
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