Nograles faces raps in P47.5-M PDAF scam
By RHODINA VILLANUEVA
Former speaker and Davao City congressman Prospero Nograles is facing graft charges for allegedly using his Priority Development Assistance Fund ( PDAF) for nonexistent projects when he was caretaker congressman of Misamis Oriental.
In a statement yesterday, Ombudsman Conchita CarpioMorales ordered Nograles charged with three counts of violating Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act 3019), one count of malversation and two counts of malversation through falsification of public documents.
The ombudsman accused Nograles of anomalies in the use of the late congressman Danilo Lagbas’ PDAF. Lagbas died in 2008.
His co-accused are his chief of staff Jennifer Karen Lagbas; chief public affairs officer Danilo Jamito; National Agri-business Corp.’s Allan Javellana, Encarnita Cristina Munsod, Romulo Relevo, Ma. Julie Villaralvo-Johnson and Rhodora Mendoza; National Livelihood Development Corp.’ s Gondelina Amata, Evelyn Sucgang, Emmanuel Alexis Sevidal, Ofelia Ordoñez and Sofia Cruz; Technology Resource Center’s Antonio Ortiz, Dennis Cunanan, Marivic Jover and Ma. Rosalinda Lacsamana; Marilou Antonio, Godofredo Roque, Maria Paz Vega, Marilou Ferrer, Rodrigo Doria, Flerida Alberto, Miraflor Villanueva, Melinda Guerrero and Carmelita Barredo. Non-existent
Documents show that from 2007 to 2009, the Department of Budget and Management released P47.5 million for Lagbas’ PDAF.
Lagbas, and later on Nograles, picked several nongovernment organizations ( NGOs) to implement integrated livelihood projects in the first district of Misamis Oriental, with the three government bodies as the implementing agencies, the ombudsman alleged.
The ombudsman’s field investigators found that many of the supposed beneficiaries denied receiving any livelihood technology kits and materials, grafted seedlings, hand tractors and water pumps.
Suppliers named in the project documents denied providing farm implements or issuing any invoices and receipts. Unqualified
The NGOs chosen by Lagbas and Nograles – Kabuhayan at Kalusugan Alay sa Masa Foundation Inc., Kasangga sa Magandang Bukas Foundation Inc., Gabay at Pag-asa ng Masa Foundation Inc. and Buhay Mo Mahal Ko Foundation Inc. – “could not qualify for the grant of government funds since they failed to strictly comply” with the requirements to be eligible for the projects, the ombudsman alleged.
Based on documents and testimonies, the two lawmakers not only proposed and selected the projects, but also directly participated and intervened in the various phases of the project implementation, according to the ombudsman.
Findings from the Commission on Audit show that the receipts used by the alleged supplier, C.C. Barredo Publishing House, contained overlapping series numbers and that the supplier’s Authority to Print receipts were used by two other establishments, G-Roy Enterprises and Ikaw at Ako Foundation Inc.
The ombudsman directed that copies of the resolution be given to the Anti-Money Laundering Council for its immediate action on possible violations by the respondents of the Anti-Money Laundering Act.
Meanwhile, Nograles said he will file a motion for reconsideration on the ombudsman’s decision to file charges against him before the Sandiganbayan.
He maintained that this decision was based on spurious documents and mismatched timelines.
Nograles said that as far as he is concerned, he did not receive or facilitate the release of any PDAF while he was acting as caretaker congressman of Misamis Oriental.
He said that he exercised no administrative control over the day-to-day operation of this office.
In a statement, Nograles said whoever is behind the bid to pin him down should stop because he has long retired from politics and is no longer interested in any government position.
“I’m retired and I’m happy taking care of my wife, my grandchildren and my dogs so leave me alone. Any true legal mind would agree that the cases filed by the ombudsman are without basis in fact and in law,” he said.