Two NCMF officials fined P10,000 over P3.8 million PDAF transfer

Two National Commission For Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) officials were each slapped with a P10,000 penalty over the unlawful transfer of P3.8 million worth of a Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) to a private entity.

These fines stemmed from a plea bargaining agreement, which the Sandiganbayan Seventh Division approved on Friday, between state prosecutors and the accused - then NCMF Acting Chief Accountant Fedelina Aldanse and then NCMF cashier Olga Galido.

Both Aldanse and Galido pled guilty to a lighter offense of violating Section 7A of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employee, a law which prohibited public officials and employees from having, directly or indirectly, any financial or material interest in any transaction requiring the approval of their office.

The NCMF civil servants were initially accused of violating Section 3E of Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act over the transfer of the late Maguindanao representative Simeon Datumanong's P3.8 million worth of PDAF to a private entity -  the Maharlikang Lipi Foundation Inc. (MLFI).

Datumanong’s PDAF was supposed to fund livelihood projects which did not come into fruition.

The graft charge is punishable by imprisonment of one to 10 years, perpetual disqualification from public office, and confiscation or forfeiture in favor of the government of any prohibited interest and unexplained wealth manifestly out of proportion to his salary and other lawful income.

A violation of Section 7A of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, on the other hand, is just punishable with jail time not exceeding five years or a fine not exceeding five thousand pesos or both, and, in the discretion of the court of competent jurisdiction, disqualification to hold public office.

In July, NCMF Commissioner Mehol Kiram Sadain, Acting Chief Aurora Ocular Aragon-Mabang, Director III Galay Makalinggan, and Maharlikang Lipi Foundation Inc. (MLFI) General Manager Queenie Rodriguez also pleaded guilty to the lesser offense of violating Section 7A of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees over the same case. — DVM, GMA News