Ombudsman files graft raps vs. Honasan over 'pork' misuse

The Office of the Ombudsman on Tuesday filed graft charges against Senator Gringo Honasan over the alleged irregular procurement of projects worth P30 million released under his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).

Honasan is facing two counts in violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act before the Sandiganbayan when he allegedly released his PDAF to the National Council of Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) to finance livelihood projects for Muslim communities in the National Capital Region and Zambales.

Based on his indictment, an in-depth investigation conducted by Ombudsman field investigators revealed that the Department of Budget and Management released Honasan's PDAF, or pork barrel, in April 2012.

Documents obtained by investigators showed Honasan tapped NCMF as implementing agency and Focus Development Goals Foundation, Inc. as non-government organization (NGO)-partner without the compliance of procurement regulations.

The Ombudsman, in a resolution dated September 21, 2016, said the check dated May 30, 2012 and disbursement voucher approving the payment of the P30 million "were prepared by public respondents in favor of Focus even before the NGO was informed that it was found qualified to undertake the project."

The Ombudsman said the check was also signed before the memorandum of agreement was sealed between Honasan, NCMF, and Focus.

Furthermore, Honasan allegedly approved the release of the funds in two tranches totaling P29.1 million in favor of Focus.

“The repeated illegal transfers of public funds to the NGO, resulted in the quantifiable, pecuniary losses to the Government, thus constituting undue injury," Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales said in the September resolution.

Honasan failed to submit his counter-affidavit during the investigation of the case, the Ombudsman said. He has yet to issue a statement regarding his indictment.

Co-accused in the case are then-Political Affairs/Project Coordinator Chief Michael Benjamin and NCMF executives Mehol Sadain, Fedelina Aldanese, Galay Makalinggan, Aurora Aragon-Mabang, Olga Galido, Giovanni Manuel Gaerlan, and Salvador Gaerlan.

Honasan is the fourth senator facing charges at the Sandiganbayan. Former senators Jinggoy Estrada, Juan Ponce Enrile, and Bong Revilla are likewise facing plunder and graft charges in connection with the multi-billion PDAF scam. —KBK, GMA News