Andaya refuses to enter plea in graft, malversation raps

Former Camarines Sur representative Rolando Andaya Jr. on Friday refused to enter any plea on 97 counts of graft and 97 counts of malversation of public funds in connection with the P900 million Malampaya fund scam.

During his arraignment before the Sandiganbayan’s Third Division, Andaya justified his refusal to enter a plea by citing his pending petition for certiorari before the Supreme Court where he accused government prosecutors of grave abuse of discretion for filing the multiple criminal charges against him.

Andaya’s petition for certiorari came with a prayer for a Temporary Restraining Order.

As a result of Andaya’s refusal to enter a plea, the anti-graft court entered a not guilty plea for him.

Government prosecutors are accusing Andaya—the Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management at the time—and at least 20 other co-accused of pocketing money out of the P900 million Malampaya fund which was supposed to be earmarked for programs that will aid victims of typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng.

Instead of being of benefit to the public, government prosecutors alleged that the P900 million Malampaya fund was diverted to around 13 non-government entities owned by businesswoman Janet Napoles and her children, Jo Christine and James Christopher.

The Napoleses are among Andaya’s co-accused in the case, which also include  alongside Ruby Tuason and former Department of Budget and Management Undersecretary Rene Relampagos.

The Malampaya fund is a gas money for the government sourced from payments of oil companies Caltex and Shell for extracting natural gas in Malampaya oil field in Palawan province.

Under the law, the Malampaya fund should be spent for energy development projects. — RSJ, GMA News