Martinezes mum on graft raps

THE camp of former Cebu Rep. Clavel Martinez and two of her children are still studying their legal options in the wake of the graft and malversation charges filed against them before the Sandiganbayan.

In a phone interview, former Bogo City mayor Celestino “Tining” Martinez III said their lawyers will handle the cases filed against them.

He declined to elaborate, saying he had to attend a meeting.

The former mayor, his mother, his sister and four others were charged for the alleged misuse of P10 million in pork barrel funds in a donation supposed to go to the Girl Scouts of the Philippines in 2003.

Charges of malversation of public funds and violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act were filed against the Martinezes.

Bail was recommended at P40,000 for each of the accused.

Arrest warrants will be issued within 10 days after the case is raffled off to a justice.

Named respondents in the case are ex-congresswoman Martinez, former Martinez III and former Girl Scout of the Philippines (GSP) treasurer Maria Cielo Martinez.

Also charged were GSP cashier Julieta Quino, municipal treasurer Rhett Minguez, municipal accountant Cresencio Verdida and GSP bookkeeper Rhodariza Kilantang.

The P10 million was allegedly taken from the portion of Clavel’s priority development assistance fund (PDAF) or pork barrel that was intended for donation to the GSP in Cebu City.

The public fund was found to have been deposited in Clavel’s personal account in the Bank of the Philippine Islands.

Clavel was the president of the GSP in Cebu City from 1995 to 2003.

The respondents told the anti-graft office that they had returned the P10 million to the government coffers in 2005.

The Ombudsman said the respondent’s defense does not discount the fact that public money was embezzled and appropriated for personal use. Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol