5 TRC officials sacked for alleged involvement in pork barrel scam

Office of the Ombudsman. NOY MORCOSO/INQUIRER.net file photo

The Office of the Ombudsman has sacked five officials of the Technology Resource Center (TRC) for their alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam.

In a statement on Wednesday, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales ordered the dismissal of Deputy Director General Dennis Cunanan, Chief Accountant Marivic Jover, Budget Officer IV Consuelo Lilian Espiritu, Sales and Promotion Officer V Belina Concepcion and Internal Auditor V Maurine Dimaranan.

READ: Former solons indicted for non-Napoles pork scam

The Ombudsman meted out the administrative offense in connection with the criminal complaints on the alleged misuse of the Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) of former Representatives Alvin Sandoval of Malabon and Navotas cities, Anthony Miranda of the 4th District of Isabela, and Constantino Jaraula of Cagayan de Oro City.

The TRC is one of the implementing agencies allegedly used to funnel lawmakers’ PDAF to bogus nongovernment organizations to implement fake projects.

In three separate decisions, Morales found the officials guilty of Grave Misconduct, Serious Dishonesty and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service.

The Ombudsman also meted out the accessory penalties of cancelation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, perpetual disqualification from holding public office and from taking the civil service examination.

Department of Science and Technology Secretary Mario Montejo was ordered to implement the Ombudsman’s decision.

According to the Ombudsman, Cunanan and the other accused approved the illegal disbursement of the pork barrel funds of lawmakers Sandoval, Jaraula, and Miranda.

In its investigation, the Ombudsman found out that no public bidding was conducted and no due diligence and audit were done in checking the track record and financial capability of the selected non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

The TRC officials also allegedly accepted fabricated liquidation reports, list of recipients/beneficiaries, inspection reports, progress reports and other PDAF-related documents.

READ: 6 more lawmakers face pork scam raps

Former representative Jaraula faces malversation and graft charges before the Sandiganbayan for his involvement in the alleged scheme of pilfering his PDAF to ghost projects for kickbacks under the scheme of Janet Lim-Napoles.

He stands accused of receiving P20.8 million in kickbacks according to the financial records of principal whistleblower Benhur Luy.

Sandoval faces malversation and graft indictment for alleged misuse of his P30 million PDAF to fictitious projects and ghost beneficiaries from 2007 to 2009. His pork barrel scam case involves bogus foundations outside the web of Napoles’ dubious NGOs.

Lastly, Miranda faces graft and malversation charges for allegedly channeling P20.06 million of his 2007 PDAF illegally to his own NGO which implemented ghost projects. RAM