Ex-Negros Oriental Rep. Herminio Teves indicted over PDAF scam

Former Negros Oriental 3rd District Representative Herminio Teves has been indicted at the Sandiganbayan over his alleged funding of non-existent projects worth P10 million through his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).

Prosecutors from the Office of the Ombudsman filed one count each of violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and malversation against Teves.

Other respondents named in the case are then-Teves' chief of staff Hiram Diday Pulido; Technology and Resource Center officials Antonio Ortiz, Dennis Cunanan, Francisco Figura, Marivic Jover, and Belina Concepcion; and Molugan Foundation Inc. (MFI) president Samuel Bombeo Sr.

In February 2007, Teves allegedly used his position to unilaterally endorse MFI as non-government organization-partner for the implementation of livelihood programs for his constituents in Negros Oriental.

The former lawmaker approved the release of his PDAF worth P10 million to facilitate the program despite MFI's ineligibility and the lack of a public bidding required under the Government Procurement Reform Act.

Bombeo, meanwhile, received the public funds on behalf of TLRC in the amount of P9.6 million and the P400,000 was allotted as service fee.

The prosecution said Teves and his co-accused public officials used the funds for their own benefit, while Bombeo failed to submit liquidation reports on the project despite demands from the Commission on Audit.

"By their above acts, Teves, Pulido, and the above-named TLRC officials allowed Bombeo, through MFI, to take possession and thus misappropriate PDAF-drawn public funds, instead of implementing the PDAF-funded project, which turned out to be non-existent," the charge sheet read.

A total bail bond of P70,000 has been recommended for each of the accused. —KG, GMA News