Napoles, Ducut maintain innocence on PDAF

Alleged mastermind of the multibillion-peso pork barrel fund scam Janet Lim-Napoles yesterday maintained her innocence in the anomaly.

“Not guilty, your honor,” Napoles pleaded before the Sandiganbayan Second Division during her arraignment for graft and malversation.

Her co-accused, Ilocos Sur First District Rep. Salacnib Baterina, also pleaded not guilty.

Likewise, former Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) chair Zenaida Ducut pleaded “not guilty” for graft, malversation and direct bribery.

Their cases stemmed from the alleged misuse of Baterina’s Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel in 2007 amounting to P33.9 million.

Baterina’s arraignment was reset to Aug. 7 as the court has yet to rule on his motion to dismiss the cases.

Other respondents who pleaded “not guilty” were former Technology Resource Center (TRC) deputy director general Dennis Cunanan and former TRC employees Maria Rosalina Lacsamana, Marivic Jover, Francisco Figura, Maurine Dimaranan and Belina Concepcion.

Yet to be arraigned are former Budget Undersecretary Mario Relampagos and former Department of Budget and Management employees Rosario Nuñez, Lalaine Paule and Marilou Bare.

Based on information of the cases filed by the ombudsman last March 17, Baterina allocated portions of his PDAF to two fake foundations owned by Napoles for the supposed implementation of livelihood projects in his district. Investigation showed that none of the projects were implemented.

The ombudsman said Baterina, allegedly through Ducut, received P3 million worth of kickback from Napoles in exchange for the PDAF allocation.