Estrada, Honasan in separate P220M pork barrel probe

By: Nancy C. Carvajal - 11 years ago

MANILA, Philippines—Though no witness or whistle-blower has come forward as yet to testify to it, the P220 million in pork barrel funds that Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Gringo Honasan allegedly funneled to dubious nongovernment organizations in 2010 and 2011 through the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) is strongly supported by documents, according to sources with knowledge of the investigation at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

“The investigation has a nationwide coverage and pinned down lawmakers through documentary evidence, but no witnesses,” said the source who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The P220-million case using the DAR as the implementing agency and involving the two senators is separate from the much more massive P10-billion scam allegedly masterminded by the detained Janet Lim-Napoles. But it also involves at least 10 of the dubious NGOs linked to Napoles.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima ordered the NBI to conduct a separate investigation into the P220-billion alleged scam after DAR Undersecretary Anthony Parungao revealed in television interviews in November 2013 that Estrada and Honasan had authorized the release of funds from their pork barrel entitlements to the DAR using bogus Napoles NGOs and others in 2010 and 2011.

Parungao, who was interviewed after the P10-billion scam blew up in the media, said the projects endorsed by the two senators were never implemented and were “ghost projects.”

Estrada allegedly endorsed P70 million to 10 towns for the DAR’s organic farming livelihood projects that were supposed to be undertaken by 10 Napoles-controlled NGOs.

Honasan allegedly endorsed P150 million to 14 towns through non-Napoles organizations: Samahan Magsasaka Sa Kapatagan at Kabundukan Foundation Inc. (Samal, Bataan; San Pablo, Isabela; Porac, Pampanga; Benito Soliven, Isabela, and Paombong, Bulacan); Divine Grace Foundation Inc. (San Ildefenso and Malolos, Bulacan; Bagac and Mariveles Bataan).

‘No whistle-blower, witnesses’

Cesar Bacani, the NBI Antifraud and and Action Division head who was assigned to investigate the P220-million misplaced DAR-allocated funds, declined to provide details on the investigation but confirmed “they have no whistle-blower or witnesses.”

Bacani said three mayors have appeared before investigators and all three denied receiving funds from Estrada and Honasan through the DAR as the implementing agency.

“There’s no witnesses or whistle-blower for this case, but we continue to investigate the accusation against the senators and others,” Bacani said.

“The three mayors denied they received funds and promised to execute sworn statements,” he said.

Also being investigated are DAR employees whose signatures were found on the checks, agreements and vouchers that led to the release of the P220 million.

Based on Parungao’s statements, they are Undersecretaries Jerry E. Pacturan and Felix Perry Villanueva, former DAR Directors Teresita Panlilio and Dominador V. Sison, chief cashier Nilda Baui, chief accountant Rowena Agbayani and Ronald Venancio.