Officials in 2 scams barred from gov’t service
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales has ordered the perpetual disqualification from government service of several former officials of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) and Department of Agrarian Reform for their alleged involvement in the pork barrel and Malampaya fund scams.
For officials who are already out of government service, the penalty of dismissal would be converted into fines equivalent to a year’s salary.
The six NCMF executives were dismissed for their roles in the alleged misuse of Sen. Gregorio Honasan II’s P29.1-million Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) allocations in 2012. Also dismissed was Honasan’s former political affairs chief, Michael Benjamin.
The Ombudsman ruled that the officials, led by former NCMF secretary and chief executive officer Mehol Sadain, helped process allegedly irregular livelihood projects for Muslim communities in Metro Manila and Zambales province.
Senator’s endorsement
Investigation showed that in 2012, Honasan endorsed Focus Development Goals Foundation as a partner nongovernment organization for the projects.
The NCMF officials allegedly prepared disbursement vouchers even before the NGO was declared qualified and without a memorandum of agreement signed by the senator’s office and NCMF as the implementing agency.
Morales held the NCMF officials administratively liable for grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to government.
She said NCMF officials were not performing just ministerial acts when they signed the disbursement vouchers and checks to release the funds.
Acting chief accountant Fedelina Aldanese, who is now acting Finance and Management Services director, is also among the dismissed officials.
Other dismissed former officials were director III Galay Makalinggan, NCMF chief Sania Busran, acting NCMF chief Aurora Aragon-Mabang and cashier Olga Galido.
The Ombudsman in September found probable cause to press criminal charges against the NCMF officials and Benjamin, along with Honasan and two Focus officers.
