Ex-Navy captain charged with graft, malversation

The Office of the Ombudsman has formally filed charges against a retired navy official for the alleged anomalous receipt of P3.5 million as payment for the lease of land at a Bataan shipyard without authority.

Charged with violation of Section 3(e) of RA 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and Malversation through Falsification was retired navy captain Proceso Maligalig, who also served as president and member of the Board of Directors of the Bataan Shipyard and Engineering Co., Inc. (BASECO), a government-owned or -controlled corporation.

Maligalig also served as spokesperson of the Rebolusyonaryong Alyansang Makabansa (RAM).

In the case information filed with the Sandiganbayan, the Ombudsman said Maligalig, in March 29, 2010, executed a Release, Waiver and Quitclaim in favor of Northstar Transport Facilities, enabling him to receive P3,554,000 from Northstar as full settlement of the latter's total arrearages of P4,819,198.13 to BASECO.

The payment was for the period of May 2009 to February 2010 under the Contract of Lease between BASECO and Northstar.

The contract covers the eastern portion of the land area called Engineer Island and accretions in Port Area, Manila, with a total area of around 17,896.10 square meters.

The Ombudsman, however, said the quitclaim had no authority from the BASECO Board of Directors.

The Ombudsman said Maligalig executed the quitclaim in order to implement the Resolutions dated March 24, 2010 by the BASECO Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors, however, did not approve or issue such resolutions, the Ombudsman said.

Maligalig also did not remit the P3.5 million he received from Northstar to BASECO, the Ombudsman added.

A P200,000 bail was recommended for the malversation charge, while none for the graft charge. —KBK, GMA News