Drilon, Abads face plunder, graft complaints before Ombudsman

By: Tetch Torres-Tupas - 11 years ago

Senate President Franklin Drilon and Budget Secretary Florencio Abad INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Senate President Franklin Drilon and Budget Secretary Florencio Abad and his wife are facing a criminal complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman over the alleged questionable release of funds for a project in Iloilo, Drilon’s home province.

Augusto Syjuco, former Iloilo Representative and director of the Technical Education and Skills Auhtority (Tesda), in separate complaints filed Friday, urged Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales to prosecute Drilon and the Abads for alleged plunder, violation of the Anti-Graft LAA and Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees and order their preventive suspension.

Based on the complaint, Drilon allegedly gave P70 million in Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) for the Iloilo Esplanade I project.

“Adding altogether the construction of the retaining wall, slope protection, landscaping and amenities to complete the Iloilo Esplanade I is overwhelmingly incredible. This P70-million Iloilo Esplanade I project is absolutely a windfall to the pocket of respondent Franklin Magtunao Drilon,” the complaint read.

Syjuco said while the Esplanade has been furnished and equipped with lighting, interlocking block pavement and landscaped with ornamental plants, another P13.5 million PDAF was allocated by Drilon for its improvement on August 2012.

“Obviously, the hasty allocation of another P13 million from PDAF of respondent Drilon under the guise of the esplanade project is a scam to fund a non-existent project,” Syjuco said.

In a separate complaint, Syjuco said, Drilon, together with the Abads should be prosecuted for plunder and violation of the anti-graft law for the questionable release of P752.5 million to Mrs. Abad which is 10 times her regular pork barrel allocation for the lone district of Batanes.

Syjuco said it was released upon the approval of Drilon who was then chairman of the Senate’s finance committee.

In return, Syjuco said, Budget Secretary Abad provided for the release of a little over P1 billion as “incentive” to the senators who voted to convict former Chief Justice Renato Corona.

“Hence, it is respectfully requested of this Honorable Office to immediately order the preventive suspension of all respondents and to conduct the necessary action on the matter leading to the immediate filing of the necessary administrative and criminal cases as the evidence warrants,” Syjuco said.