Ombudsman drops 2 charges vs. Nur Misuari

The Office of the Ombudsman has dropped two charges against Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding chairman Nur Misuari due to insufficient evidence, while upholding his prosecution on four other charges.

In a resolution dated March 26, the Office of the Ombudsman said that "there appears no sufficient evidence" to continue with the prosecution of Misuari relating to the purchase of educational materials from the White Orchids Printing and Publishing House (White Orchids).

Misuari was charged with three counts each of graft and malversation through falsification for allegedly conspiring with his co-accused in giving "unwarranted benefits, advantage and privilege" to three private companies: CPR Publishing House, MBJ Learning Tools, and White Orchids.

The case stemmed over the alleged anomalous procurement of educational materials worth P115 million during Misuari's term as governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao from 2000 to 2001.

The prosecutors said documents relative to the transaction between the White Orchids and DepEd-ARMM "could no longer be located and produced despite diligent efforts."

However, the resolution said that Misuari is indictable in both transactions of DepEd-ARMM with CPR Publishing House and MBJ Learning Tools.

The Sandiganbayan ordered the arrest of Misuari on September 5.

The same month, Misuari posted a P460,000 bail before a Davao City court in connection with his graft and malversation case before the Sandiganbayan. —Jessica Bartolome/ALG, GMA News