Ex-solon in pork barrel scam to be detained at Camp Bagong Diwa

A downcast Edgar Valdez (center) former Apec representative, is accompanied to the Sheriff division of the Sandiganbayan after he surrendered for plunder over the pork barrel scam. MARC CAYABYAB/INQUIRER.net

The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division on Monday said former Apec Representative Edgar Valdez will be detained at the Camp Bagong Diwa for plunder over the pork barrel scam once his medical condition improves.

This developed after the antigraft court denied Valdez’s motion for detention at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center with senators Ramon Revilla Jr. and Jinggoy Estrada.

In a resolution, the court said the commitment order for Valdez to be detained at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology facility will take effect once his condition improves.

Valdez was rushed to the PNP hospital after surrendering due to his blood pressure and diabetes.

“In view of the foregoing interim medical condition of the accused, his attending physician at the PNP Hospital is directed to inform the Court of the medical condition of the accused within 48 hours from receipt of the person of the accused,” the resolution said.

“Once his condition improves, the order of commitment shall be given effect,” it added.

Valdez is accused of pocketing at least P57.787 million in kickbacks from 2004 to 2010 in  the scam of pillaging lawmakers’ Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) in ghost projects for kickbacks.

Principal whistleblower Benhur Luy said payoffs for Valdez, whose codename is “kuryente,” were made in Napoles’ office in Ortigas. Valdez represents electric cooperatives in Congress.

In its indictment, the Ombudsman said Valdez endorsed his PDAF projects to Napoles-controlled foundations which implemented projects like livelihood programs, farm inputs and farm implements, agricultural starter kits, technology transfer training via video courses and printed materials, vegetable seeds, gardening packages, knapsack sprayers, concentrated fertilizers, and other tools and equipment, that never went to their beneficiaries.

“(The) PDAF of Valdez was never used for the intended projects as these were considered ‘ghost’ projects, with fabricated documents submitted for its liquidation.  The mayors and municipal agriculturists reported that they never received anything from the office of Valdez, or from any of the project partners,” the Ombudsman said.

“In fact, many of the names appearing on the lists as farmer-recipients were neither residents nor registered voters of the municipalities,” the Ombudsman added.