Martinezes wait for Ombud papers on graft case

THE Martinez family will wait for the official papers from the Ombudsman before issuing their statements on the graft and malversation charges filed by the office against them.

In a phone interview, Martinez family spokesman Rolly Valderama said former Rep. Clavel Martinez, son Celestino “Tining” Martinez III and daughter Maria Cielo Martinez couldn’t issue any statement since the report was based on an Ombudsman press release.

Last July 8, the Ombudsman posted a press release titled “OMB investigates PCSO fund scam; orders the filing of charges against former Rep. Clavel Martinez and former Mayor Celestino Martinez” on its website.

The statement indicated that acting Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro approved the recommendation charging Clavel, Tining, Cielo and four other officials of malversation before the Sandiganbayan.

Also included in the indictment were municipal treasurer Rhett E. Minguez, municipal accountant Cresencio P. Verdida, bookkeeper Rhodariza V. Kilantang and GSP Cebu Council cashier Julieta G. Quino.

In a phone interview, Valderama said they need to acquire the official document from the Ombudsman before they could answer the charges.

In a text message, Tining told Cebu Daily News that they have not yet received any document on this.

“We also still have to consult our lawyer once we receive it,” he said.

The officials were likewise charged with violating Section 3 (e) of RA 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act).

The charges stem from the complaint filed by the Ombudsman’s Field Investigation Office (OMB-FIO) alleging that the respondents conspired in misappropriating P10,000,000 for the personal use and benefit of Congresswoman Martinez from September to October 2003.

The amount was taken from the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) for 2003 intended for donation to the GSP Cebu City.

The office said the amount was deposited to Martinez’s personal account in BPI.

The Ombudsman said a total of P11.5 million PDAF was released through a check with the GSP/treasurer as payee of the September 2003 Land Bank check.

Quino applied for a manager’s check in the same amount at LBP Bogo, Cebu, with the payee for the manager’s check being GSP or Ma. Cielo A. Martinez.

On Oct. 20, 2003, about P11.5 million was deposited at the BPI account of GSP.

A week later, the amount was withdrawn by Ma. Cielo and reportedly deposited to the BPI account of Clavel Martinez.

Of the amount, the Ombudsman said P1.5 million was erroneously released as part of  Martinez’s PDAF when it was actually a fund for the Bayan Muna party-list.

The amount was returned by GSP to Bogo town, which then remitted the P1.5 million to  government coffers.

About P10 million remains unaccounted for.  The Ombudsman said the transaction was disallowed by the Commission on Audit.

The Ombudsman said while the Martinezes justified that the P10 million was returned to government coffers in 2005, it still does not discount the fact that public funds were embezzled and appropriated for personal use.

Congresswoman Martinez was the president of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines Cebu City from 1995-2003. Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus