Crisologo shrugs off graft, malversation raps

Quezon City Representative Vincent Crisologo on Thursday shrugged off the Ombudsman's finding of probable cause to charge him for graft and malversation over the alleged misuse of his P8-million Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) in 2009.

In an interview with reporters, Crisologo admitted that he has not yet seen the Ombudsman's resolution, but he is not bothered by the finding of probable cause.

"They charge all congressmen. I'm not worried about that. They charge all congressman with that," he said.

Crisologo is facing two counts each of violation of Section 3 (e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, malversation, and malversation through falsification of public documents.

The Ombudsman said Crisologo had requested the Department of Budget and Management to release his PDAF for the implementation of the Comprehensive Integrated Delivery of Social Services program with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as its implementing agency.

Crisologo allegedly chose Kaloocan Assistance Council, Inc. (KACI) as non-government organization-partner to provide medical/hospitalization assistance, transportation, calamity, death, burial, educational expenses, small-scale livelihood, socio-cultural expenses, small-scale infrastructure assistance and values training for his constituents.

But the Ombudsman found that KACI submitted falsified receipts and that the beneficiaries of the financial assistance included coordinators and political supporters of Crisologo.

The supposed beneficiaries of the program likewise denied receiving any burial or financial assistance. They denied signing any document, contrary to the signatures appearing on the vouchers of the program.

Representatives from the National Children’s Hospital also said they did not receive any free medical or dental mission in October 2009.

Crisologo, however, said he could not be charged with graft as he did not get hold of the questioned funds.

"We did not hold any money, we did not implement any project, we just pinpointed it and there was an implementing agency," he said.

"The reason why there is an implementing agency is because we as congressmen do not have the facilities to implement. We did not hold any money so where's graft and corruption there?" he added.

Crisologo said this act of the Ombudsman to charge public officials is what President Rodrigo Duterte is referring to when he order an investigation into the alleged partiality of the anti-graft office.

"I don't know what's the matter with the ombudsman. But precisely that's what the president is saying. The Ombudsman has overlapped its power by going after all. All congressman I think has been charged," he said.

Aside from Crisologo, the Ombudsman also ordered the filing of charges against former DSWD Secretary Esperanza Cabral, Undersecretary Mateo Montaño, and other officials of the agency, namely: Lualhati Pablo, Leonila Hayahay, Vilma Cabrera, and Pacita Sarino.

KACI president Cenon Mayor was also made respondent in the case. — RSJ, GMA News