Acosta, ma face perjury charges

Nereus Acosta. comelec.gov.ph photo

The Ombudsman has charged former Bukidnon Rep. Nereus Acosta and his mother with perjury in the Sandiganbayan after finding probable cause for their indictment in connection with the alleged irregular use of Acosta’s pork barrel when he was a member of the House of Representatives six years ago.

A four-page information signed by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales said that on Sept. 4, 2006, Acosta illegally channeled P5.5 million from his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) to the Bukidnon Vegetable Producers Cooperative (BVPC), a private organization controlled by his family, and made it appear that this had been approved by the Sangguniang Bayan of Manolo Fortrich, a first-class municipality in Bukidnon headed by his mother, Socorro Acosta, as mayor.

Feloniously executed

The Ombudsman said Representative Acosta “deliberately, willfully, unlawfully and feloniously executed his counteraffidavit, sworn to before a notary public, stating and swearing that such channeling was concurred in by the Sangguniang Bayan of Manolo Fortich, which was false, as the accused fully well knew that no such concurrence was given…”

The Ombudsman recommended bail of P6,000 for his temporary liberty.

His mother was also charged with violating Article No. 183 of the Revised Penal Code for perjury for executing a counteraffidavit affirming that the funneling of her son’s PDAF to the BVPC was concurred in by the Sangguniang Bayan, or town council, of Manolo Fortich. Bail of P6,000 was also recommended for her.

Mother and son still face charges of violating Republic Acts No. 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) and 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials) in the Ombudsman for the alleged illegal transfer of the funds.

Meanwhile, in another case in the Sandiganbayan, a state prosecutor has asked the antigraft court’s First Division to subpoena the government’s first batch of witnesses in the plunder case against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and nine other former officials of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and Commission on Audit in connection with the alleged misuse of P366 million in PCSO confidential and intelligence funds.

Called to testify for the state at 8 a.m. on Nov. 7 and 8 were Bayan Muna’s Rep. Teddy Casiño and Dr. Ma. Carolina Araullo, former National Economic and Development Authority Director Romulo Neri and whistle-blower Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada.