Graft raps ordered filed against Cotabato congressman

MANILA, Philippines—The Office of the Ombudsman ordered the filing of a string  of malversation and graft charges against Cotabato lone district Representative Jesus Sacdalan for misappropriating P18.6 million worth of calamity funds in 2008.

Sacdalan is facing 12 counts of violation of Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code or Malversation and 12 counts of violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft Law, said the order issued by acting Ombudsman Orlando C. Casimiro.

Records showed that Sacdalan, then governor of Cotabato, approved the release of the government’s 2008 calamity fund.

But complainant Milagros Casis, former district engineer of the province’s first district, alleged that the fund released was more than the needed amount to finish the projects indicated in the 2008 Programs of Work for Road Projects of Cotabato.

Casis alleged that Sacdalan ordered her to falsify the papers for the projects. Among the purchases she mentioned include the purchase on May 26, 2008 of 134,438.72 liters of fuel from a gas station in Midsayap town capable of storing only 16,000 liters. She added that Sacdalan also approved the release of P12 million for the Double V and P6.6 million for the Shell station.

Casis said Sacdalan ordered the payment of fuels yet to be received by the provincial government, contrary to Section 338 of the Local Government Code, which “prohibits payment of money on account of any contract under which no goods have been received.”

The Office of the Ombudsman, through Casimiro said “since respondent Sacdalan admits that he paid for the diesel fuel on account of a contract for which no fuel had actually been delivered, any amount paid…represents the actual damage inflicted upon the province of Cotabato.”