Ex-Surigao lawmaker faces ‘pork’ raps

Former Surigao del Sur congressman Peter Paul Jed Falcon was indicted yesterday before the Sandiganbayan in connection with the pork barrel scam.

Lingig mayor Roberto Luna Jr.; bids and awards committee members Jethro Lindo, Aludia de Castro, Carmelo Rebosura and Teofilo Maymay; municipal treasurer Ebrencio Indoyon Jr. as well as Ma. Luzviminda Lopez of Philflex Trading and General Merchandise were included in the charge sheet.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales said the case stemmed from the alleged anomalous procurement of communication equipment amounting to P18.9 million by the Lingig local government in 2007.

Graft probers said the equipment were bought using Falcon’s Priority Development Assistance Fund or pork barrel.

However, state auditors said the local government did not receive the equipment, resulting in the issuance of notices of disallowance.

The project was awarded to Philflex without public bidding, the ombudsman added.

“While it may be true that Falcon did not participate in the procurement process, it cannot be denied that he accepted the equipment even if his office was not the procuring entity, and did not turn it over to the LGU (local government unit) that paid for it,” Morales stated in her ruling.