Solon, 4 others face raps for faking budget release orders
Department of Justice building. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has recommended to the Department of Justice the filing of criminal case against Aklan Representative Teodorico Haresco Jr. and four others in connection with the fake Special Allotment Release Orders (Saro).
Aside from Haresco, also recommended to be charged with falsification of public documents are Emmanuel T. Raza, congressional staff of Congresswoman Lilia Macrohon-Nuno of Zamboanga City, Elvie Rafael, driver of Budget Undersecretary Mario Relampagos, Bhernie C. Beltran from the Department of Budget and Management while Mary Ann V. Castillo, a consultant in Haresco’s office was recommended to be slapped with obstruction of justice.
Meanwhile, Raza and Rafael were recommended to be prosecuted for violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft Law and Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees while Beltran will be facing a separate complaint for violation of the Anti-Graft Law.
NBI probers have already verified that the Saros for two projects in Cagayan and Aklan provinces involving projects worth P161 million and P77 million, respectively, were falsified.
The NBI memorandum stated that P161-million worth of Saro reached the office of Congresswoman Aline Vargas-Alfonso of the Second District of Cagayan through Jose Badong who gave a copy of it to her chief of staff. Badong, a supervising legislative staff of the House Committee on Appropriations, said he got the documents from Raza. Raza, on the other hand, got the documents from Rafael and Beltran.
“As to the premature disclosure and/or unauthorized release of the Saro, the Team commented that this was the result of apparent lack of internal control system in the DBM,” the NBI stated.
Meanwhile, the Saro for Region VI, the NBI said, was endorsed by Castillo. Castillo said she got the Saro from someone she does not know. The man, she said, left the Saro and never returned.
“Castillo was uneasy and hesitant to give any information concerning the person being asked of her; that her contract of employment terminated on 31 December 2013 and that when summoned,” the NBI said Castillo turned down their request leading them to conclude that she does not want to identify the source of the Saro.
“The Team [of investigators] observed that considering that the Saro was attached and referred to in a letter signed by Cong. Haresco Jr., and sent to the DA Secretary, the legal presumption that the person who presented a falsified document is deemed to be the author, if he stands to benefit therefrom arises…Cong. Haresco Jr. would surely take the credit if the project mentioned in the Saro would be implemented considering that his district was its beneficiary,” the NBI further stated.
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