Ombudsman affirms charges vs ex-PCGG chair

Ex-PCGG Chairman Camilo Sabio. INQUIRER file photo

The Office of the Ombudsman has affirmed the criminal charges against former Presidential Commission on Good Government Chairman Camilo Sabio for allegedly misappropriating about P12 million in agency funds.

The Special Prosecutor, in a resolution approved by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales earlier this month, said Sabio failed to present new evidence, and denied his motion seeking to reverse the charges.

The Sandiganbayan 4th Division earlier granted Sabio time to file a motion for reconsideration of the resolution ordering the filing of graft and malversation charges against him.

Sabio was charged for allegedly converting to his own personal use P10.35 million that the PCGG received as remittances from the Mid-Pasig Land Development Corp. and from the sale of the A. Soriano Corp.

He was also accused of embezzling cash advances worth P1.6 million he received as PCGG chair. The cash advances consisted of accommodation, contingency funds, litigation fees and other related expenses in connection with his trip to Malaysia.

In his motion for reconsideration, Sabio said the charges were “baseless, false, absurd and ridiculous.”

But the Special Prosecutor’s resolution said Sabio’s arguments were inadequate to reverse the decision to file charges against him.