Gringo Honasan insists on innocence over PDAF scam case

Senator Gringo Honasan on Thursday said he is “completely innocent” of the graft charges filed against him over the alleged anomalous use of P30 million in priority development assistance funds (PDAF).

“I am completely innocent of the charges against me. All my life I have fought everything I am accused of, and I will continue to do so,” Honasan said in a statement.

Honasan was ordered arrested by the Sandiganbayan Second Division after the anti-graft court found probable cause to hold the former Army officer turned lawmaker for trial.

"The Court finds that there is sufficient probable cause to hold the accused in this case for trial and issue a warrant of arrest for the same," the Sandiganbayan said in the minutes of the proceedings held on August 7.

Honasan is facing two counts of graft over the release of his PDAF to the National Council of Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) to finance livelihood projects for Muslim communities in the National Capital Region and Zambales.

Based on fact-finding investigations, Honasan tapped NCMF as implementing agency and Focus Development Goals Foundation Inc. as non-government organization (NGO)-partner without the compliance of procurement regulations.

The Ombudsman, in a resolution dated September 21, 2016, said the check dated May 30, 2012 and disbursement voucher approving the payment of the P30 million "were prepared by public respondents in favor of Focus even before the NGO was informed that it was found qualified to undertake the project."

The Ombudsman said the check was also signed before the memorandum of agreement was sealed between Honasan, NCMF, and Focus. — RSJ/KVD, GMA News