Ombudsman releases decisions on Villanueva's pork barrel case

The Office of the Ombudsman made good on its promise Thursday to release documents pertaining to the complaints filed against Senator Joel Villanueva over the alleged misuse of his pork barrel, otherwise known as Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).

This developed after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla vowed Wednesday that he would publish his office's resolutions on complaints filed before it, including the past decisions on the complaints filed against Villanueva "for the information of the public."

The newly released documents show that in a July 2019 order, the Office of the Ombudsman—then under the leadership of Samuel Martires—reversed a 2016 resolution "in so far as it found probable cause" against Villanueva and the other individuals implicated in the issue for: malversation of public funds, malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents, and violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

The Martirez-era reversal was in relation to the 2016 order of former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales to dismiss Villanueva from public service after finding him guilty of grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and conduct prejudicial to the interest of service over his alleged involvement in a P10-million pork barrel scam when he was a representative of CIBAC party-list.

Also in 2019, the Ombudsman granted the motions of reconsideration filed by Villanueva on November 7 and December 2, 2016. 

"This Office finds cogent basis to reconsider its questioned Resolution of 15 July 2016. In fact, there is no probable cause against Villanueva as it was not shown that he was actually involved in the embezzlement of the Php9,700,000.00 in public funds," the decision read. 

'Obviously forged'

The Ombudsman also noted that the signature that appeared on the top of Villanueva's name in his acceptance reports on the distribution of the agribusiness materials "were obviously forged."

It further stressed that there is no sufficient evidence on record to show that Villanueva and others were involved in the alleged plot to defraud the government of P9.7 million even though it appears that the amount "was lost due to the actions of certain unscrupulous persons." 

"In fact, no part of the Php9,700,000.00 was shown to have been taken by the aforementioned respondents," the decision read.

"Thus, an in-depth probe should have been conducted with the help of law enforcement authorities, to uncover the identities of the actual malefactors beginning with the source of the falsified documents bearing the purported signature of Villanueva," it added.

Morales' decision in 2016

Aside from Martires' 2019 dismissal order, the Ombudsman on Thursday also released copies of the 2016 decision by Morales. 

It can be recalled that Remulla initially said that he would ask Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III to enforce the 2016 decision by Morales ordering Villanueva's dismissal. 

Remulla, however, later learned that Morales' decision was reversed by Martires in July 2019. The incumbent Ombudsman called the dismissal of the complaints against Villanueva "a secret decision."

Martires, in response, said he could not recall anymore why the July 2019 decision on the Villanueva case was not made publicly available. — VDV, GMA Integrated News