The Sandiganbayan on Thursday issued a warrant of arrest against former Malabon-Navotas Rep. Alvin Sandoval as he faces malversation and graft charges over the pork barrel scam.
The anti-graft court First Division issued the warrant of arrest against Sandoval who was accused of receiving kickbacks by misappropriating his Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) worth P30 million from 2007 to 2009 for projects which turned out to be nonexistent.
READ: Ex-Malabon-Navotas solon to face raps over ‘pork’ scam
Also facing charges are Sandoval’s co-accused—Technology Resource Center (TRC) officials Antonio Ortiz, Dennis Cunanan, Maria Rosalinda Lacsamana, Marivic Jover and Consuelo Espiritu; Dr. Rodolfo A. Ignacio Sr. Foundation, Inc (DRAISFI) Director Rolleo Ignacio; Pangkabuhayan Foundation, Inc. (PFI) President Petronila Balmaceda and Secretary Fernando Balmaceda and Jacinto Caster Borja Foundation, Inc.(JCBFI) President Roberto Agana.
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales said that Sandoval, by reason of his office, exercises control and custody over his PDAF, allowing him “whether directly or through his or her staff, to participate in the release of the subject funds and in the implementation of PDAF projects.”
In her July 2015 resolution finding probable cause, Morales said Sandoval’s PDAF was unlawfully channeled to DRAISFI, PFI and JCBFI using TRC as an implementing agency.
DRAISFI and PFI received P5 million each, while JCBFI received P20 million
The Ombudsman investigation showed that the projects supposedly funded by Sandoval’s PDAF through the bogus foundations were nonexistent.
The barangay (village) captains, including the city agriculturists of the affected district, testified that there was no conduct of livelihood skills trainings in their jurisdictions as well as no receipt of any livelihood and agricultural materials/kits funded by Sandoval’s PDAF.
The local officials also said the list of beneficiaries was spurious.
The Ombudsman noted that the claims for disbursements/payments were supported with falsified documents and the suppliers named were nonexistent or had no business permits.
Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act prohibits officials from causing any undue injury to any party, or giving any private party any unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference in the discharge of his official administrative or judicial functions through manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence.
The Revised Penal Code penalizes malversation, an act by a public official of misappropriating, through abandonment or negligence, public funds or an act of permitting any other person to take such public funds or property, wholly or partially.
READ: Former solons indicted for non-Napoles pork scam
The non-government organizations used by Sandoval were outside the web of spurious foundations created by Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged mastermind of a separate pork barrel scam, which resulted in the trial for plunder of Senators Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, Juan Ponce Enrile, and former representatives Rizalina Seachon Lañete and Edgar Valdez.
The Sandiganbayan is also hearing the malversation cases against former Cagayan de Oro representative Constantino Jaraula, former Benguet representative Samuel Dangwa and former Agusan Del Sur representative Rodolfo Plaza for their involvement in the supposed Napoles scam.
The court has also received a second batch of respondents in the Napoles scam. Facing malversation, graft and direct bribery are former South Cotabato Rep. Arthur Pingoy Jr., alleged agent former Energy Regulatory Commissioner Zenaida Ducut, former Customs commissioner and Muntinlupa Rep. Ruffy Biazon, former Davao del Norte Rep. Arrel Olaño, Oriental Mindoro Rep. Rodolfo Valencia and former Davao Del Sur Rep. Marc Douglas Cagas IV. RAM/rga