Anti-graft body to probe charges vs ex-DBP chair, toll road exec

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines’ anti-graft watchdog will examine charges filed against two government officials, one from the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and another employed by the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB). This was disclosed by the Office of the Ombudsman’s Field Investigation Office (FIO), citing anti-graft law violations allegedly committed by Vitaliano N. Nañagas II, former DBP chairman and ex-president of the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. (PDIC), and Eunic Losantas, a chief administrative officer of the TRB. The FIO is expected to further investigate the allegations against the two officials and determine whether charges can be filed against them at the Sandiganbayan, the Philippines’ anti-graft court. Nañagas, who also appointed chair of the Social Security System, was charged with reportedly violating section 3(i) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act 3019) and article 315 of the Revised Penal Code. Meanwhile, Losantas was charged with allegedly violating section 8 of RA 3019 in relation to section 11 of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees (Republic Act 6713). Losantas was also charged with perjury and violation of An Act declaring Forfeiture of Ill-Gotten Wealth of Public Officers and Employees (RA 1379) and section 22 of the Omnibus Rules Implementing Book V of Executive Order 292. Charges were filed against Nañagas for claiming “irregular reimbursements" amounting to P310,665.73 for personal expenses he incurred on an official trip to New York and Washington, USA from May 15 to June 14, 2001, said Caesar Asuncion, Assets Investigation Bureau (AIB) director. In his US itinerary, Nañagas reportedly “attended to some personal matters" from May 22 to June 8, 2001, according to a summary of his expenses and receipts. But during the period, Nañagas reportedly visited several stores, restaurants, museums, and specialty shops. Nañagas also made “unnecessary and extravagant reimbursements for expenses" reportedly incurred by his unidentified representative in DBP meetings in the Philippines amounting to P66,374.28, documents from the Office of the Ombudsman indicated. For his part, Losantas was charged for his reported failure to declare properties worth P18.9 billion in his 2007 Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN), FIO documents showed. These undeclared properties include a house and lot in Taytay, Rizal worth P1.5 million a Mitsubishi Adventure worth P665,000, capital investment to Euniline Computer Services and Trading, a business registered under the name of his wife, amounting to P500,000; and cash worth P16.28 million. From 2005 to 2007, Losantas’ annual income amounted only to P1,138,998. - GMANews.TV