Funds were legally disbursed, exec claims

Legal procedures were followed in the release of P5 million in provincial government funds to the Perdido Lex Foundation Inc., before it was disclosed that the group was non-existent, the Capitol’s chief accountant said yesterday.

“I was just performing my function and I followed the process. I find it most unfair that I was charged along with others for graft (in relation to the Perdido Lex Foundation case),” Provincial Accountant Marieto Ypil said yesterday.

Last Thursday, NBI agents arrested Ypil at the Capitol. He was released after posting P30,000 bail. Ypil said he is planning to file a motion to quash the charges against him.

Ypil said he only signed the last batch of vouchers amounting to P2.1 million for the foundation. Ypil said a former asst. Provincial Accountant signed the first two vouchers.

He said he indicated this in his affidavit but the court didn’t even took note of it.

Ypil also said he even required the liquidation of the P2.1 million funding released by his assistant.

Ypil was earlier meted a three-month suspension by the Ombudsman-Visayas for neglect of duty after he reportedly failed to review the supporting documents prior to the issuance of the vouchers in 2002.

Ypil and seven other persons were charged with graft before the Sandiganbayan for the alleged misuse of P5 million in public funds in 2002.

Among those charged for violating Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act were former Provincial Board (PB) Member Victor Maambong and John Gregory “John-John” Osmeña’s chief-of-staff Willie Mulla.

Also included were Milagros Herrera, Fe Tan, Nancy Sia, Veronica Caceres and Teodora Limcangco.

Herrera, Tan, Sia, Caceres and Limcangco were said to be incorporators of the Perdido Lex Foundation Inc.

Former vice governor John-John Osmeña was cleared by the Sandiganbayan of graft charges in relation to the case for insufficiency of evidence.

The Sandiganbayan said it was the Provincial Board that accredited the foundation. The Capitol released P5 million sourced from the vice governor’s discretionary funds to the foundation supposedly to fund its computer education program for Cebu youths. /With Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol