Misuari faces graft, malversation raps

Moro National Liberation Front chairman Nur Misuari was indicted before the Sandiganbayan yesterday over the alleged anomalous procurement of educational materials when he was governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales said she approved the filing of multiple graft and malversation of public funds complaints against Misuari.

Former Department of Education-ARMM executive director Leovigilda Cinches, supply officer Sittie Aisa Usman, accountant Alladin Usi, chief accountant Pangalian Maniri and education program specialist Bai Sherilyn Mustapha were included in the charge sheet.

Nader Macagaan of the Commission on Audit (COA) and suppliers Lolita Sambeli of White Orchids, Cristeta Ramirez of CPR Publishing, Mario Barria of Esteem Enterprises and Ma. Lourdes Mendoza of Dunong Publishing are the other respondents in the case.

Graft probers, citing COA findings, said the procurement of textbooks and educational materials worth P137.5 million was irregular and without public bidding.

Investigation showed Misuari approved the payment of P37.9 million worth of educational materials, P46.2 million in multi- media information technology packages, P12 million worth of books on barangay democracy and the campaign against illegal drugs as well as multi-colored Philippine maps, P21.9 million in daycare school materials and P19.2 million worth of information technology package for elementary and high school students in 2000 and 2001.

The anti-graft court said it found “probable cause that Misuari ( and respondents) conspired with one another while discharging their official functions with manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence ...to rig the procurement.”

Meanwhile, the charges against former undersecretary Abdurajul Alpha and regional secretary Mahid Mutilan were dismissed in view of their death prior to the filing of the complaint.

Misuari is also facing charges for the Zamboanga siege in September 2013. He went into hiding after a Zamboanga City court issued a warrant of arrest for rebellion and violation of Republic Act 9851 or the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity.