Ombudsman clears Andaya in pork barrel scam case

The Office of the Ombudsman has cleared Deputy Speaker Rolando Andaya Jr. of the graft and malversation charges against him over his alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam.

The anti-graft office approved Andaya’s motion seeking to reconsider its earlier decision to indict him in the pork barrel scam case with former Ilocos Sur Rep. Salacnib Baterina, Super Radyo dzBB’s Rowena Salvacion reported on Monday.

Deputy Speaker Rolando Andaya, lusot na sa kaso kaugnay ng pork barrel scam. @dzbb

— Rowena L. Salvacion (@wengsalvacion) March 20, 2017

Andaya, as budget secretary during the Arroyo administration, released the funds for Baterina’s alleged “ghost” projects.

In its resolution, the Ombudsman said it found Andaya’s arguments meritorious.

Andaya submitted the Department of Budget and Management circular stating that there is no need for implementing agencies to provide profiles for the projects if these are already covered in the pork barrel menu under the national budget.

Baterina charged

Meanwhile, Baterina is facing three counts each of violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and malversation, and one count of direct bribery.

Also facing graft and malversation charges are Technology and Livelihood Resource Center (TLRC) former director general Antonio Ortiz, former deputy director general Dennis Cunanan, group manager for Corporate Service Group Francisco Figura, sales and promotion supervisor Belina Concepcion, chief accountant Marivic Jover and internal auditor Maurine Dimaraan.

Facing one count each of graft and malversation are Department of Budget and Management Undersecretary for Operations Mario Relampagos, chief budget and management specialist Rosario Nunez, and administrative assistants Lalaine Paule and Marilou Bare.

Also named respondents are businesswoman and alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles and private individuals Godofredo Roque, Carlos Soriano, France Mercado and Evelyn De Leon.

ex-Ilocos Sur Cong. Salacnib Baterina, Janet Napoles at 9 na iba pa, kinasuhan ng @OmbudsmanPh Kaugnay ng pork barrel scam @dzbb

— Rowena L. Salvacion (@wengsalvacion) March 20, 2017

Meanwhile, also facing one count of direct bribery is Zenaida Ducut, former chairperson and chief executive officer of the Energy Regulatory Commission.

In the charge sheets filed before the Sandiganbayan, the Ombudsman said Baterina allocated his PDAF to Kaagapay Magpakailanman Foundation Inc. (KMFI) and Philippine Social Development Foundation Inc. (PSDFI) in implementing livelihood projects for the 1st District of Ilocos Norte.

KMFI was controlled by Napoles, Roque, Soriano and Mercado, while PSDFI was controlled by Napoles and De Leon.

However, the Ombudsman said that the projects turned out to be non-existent, and Napoles and her cohorts participated in the preparation and signing of acceptance of delivery reports, disbursement reports, project proposals and other documents "to conceal the fictitious nature of the transactions."

Moreover, the Ombudsman alleged that Baterina and Ducut received at least P3 million from Napoles.

Napoles is currently detained at the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City after she was convicted of serious illegal detention.

She is facing several plunder cases before the Sandiganbayan after allegedly masterminding a P10-billion scam involving lawmakers' Priority Development Assistance Fund allocations. —NB/KG GMA News