CamSur solon indicted for graft in ‘pork’ case

Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr., the budget secretary of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, was indicted for the first time in the pork barrel scam.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales on Wednesday announced Andaya would be charged with graft in the latest Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam case, this time involving the pork barrel of former Ilocos Sur Rep. (first district) Salacnib Baterina.

Baterina, Andaya and 17 others who have already pending cases with the Sandiganbayan allegedly diverted P35 million of Baterina’s PDAF in 2007 to “ghost” livelihood projects and farm inputs through bogus nongovernment organizations (NGOs).

Morales said Andaya would be charged because as then budget secretary, he issued the sub-allotment release orders and notices of cash allotment for Baterina’s PDAF “even if the required project profiles and endorsements from the implementing agencies were not obtained.”

The Ombudsman said Andaya violated DBM National Budget Circular No. 476 “thus making the funds easily accessible to the TLRC (Technology and Livelihood Resource Center) and bogus NGOs.”

Baterina will be charged with three counts each of graft and malversation, and one count of direct bribery.

To be charged anew were former Budget Undersecretary Mario Relampagos and  three of his staff members who already have several pending graft cases for their alleged participation in the misuse of the pork barrel of several lawmakers.

Baterina allegedly coursed his PDAF projects through the bogus NGOs Philippine Social Development Foundation Inc. and the Kaagapay Magpakailanman Foundation, Inc. and the state-run Technology and Livelihood Resource Center as the implementing agency.

Morales said none of the projects were implemented and were thus considered ‘ghost’ projects.