Ombudsman orders filing of raps vs Nueva Ecija ex-lawmaker

OMBUDSMAN Conchita Carpio-Morales has approved the filing of graft and malversation charges against former Nueva Ecija representative Aurelio Umali over his alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam.

In statement, Morales said she ordered the filing of four counts of violation of Section 3 (e) of the AntiGraft and Corrupt Practices Act and three counts of malversation before the Sandiganbayan against Umali and several others, including businesswoman Janet Napoles.

Also ordered charged were Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Executive Director Renato Manantan and accountant Narcisa Maninding; and Anita Tansipek and Corazon Bautista, both from the Samahan ng Mga Manininda ng Prutas sa Gabi Inc (Samahan).

The Ombudsman said the officials allegedly conspired for the release of Umali’s Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) that was supposedly used for an agricultural project.

The Ombudsman investigators found that in 2005, the DA downloaded P12 million to Masaganang Ani Para sa Magsasaka Foundation Inc. (MAMFI) and P3 million to Samahan to purchase 7,920 bottles of liquid fertilizers and 15 irrigation pumps.

Both organizations were endorsed by Umali as nongovernment organization (NGO) partners.

Ombudsman investigators discovered that “there was no real purchase at all since the liquid fertilizers has been sourced from another Napoles company, Nutrigrowth Philippines.” The same was also concluded for the purchase of the irrigation pumps.

According to the Ombudsman resolution, the use of Umali’s PDAF was riddled with irregularities such as: NGOs’lack of credentials to release multibillion peso funds,

absence of public bidding and lack of delivery of irrigation pumps, among others.

According to Morales, the funds could not have been transferred if not for the certification, approval and signatures of Umali and the other respondents in the case.

Aside from the criminal charges, Umali and Manantan are also found guilty of grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service and were ordered dismissed from service.

The Ombudsman also forfeited the retirement benefits of the two and barred them from holding any public office in the future. (Keith A. Calayag/Sunnex)