SC affirms graft charge against Napoles, 3 others

THE Supreme Court on Tuesday affirmed the Office of the Ombudsman’s decision to charge Janet Lim-Napoles and three others with graft and corruption in connection with the pork barrel scam.

In its three separate rulings, the high court dismissed the petitions which sought to nullify the findings of Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales.

“The Court deferred to the findings of the Ombudsman in the absence of grave abuse of discretion,” high court’s Information Chief Theodore Te said.

Aside from Napoles, the indictments affirmed by the high court include that of her driver John Raymond de Asis, former Technology Resource Center head Antonio Ortiz and former National Agri-Business Corporation’s head Alan Javellana.

Napoles is facing three counts of graft and corruption, malversation of public funds and corruption of public officers in connection with the anomalous disbursements of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of former Rep. Constantino Jaraula for 2004-2007 worth P 50.5-million.

She is also facing a separate case of graft, malversation of public funds and corruption of public officials along with de Asis and Javellana for the disbursement of the  PDAF of former Congressman Samuel Dangwa for 2004-2007 amounting to P54 million.

The high court also dismissed the petition for certiorari of Ortiz and Javellana against the Ombudsman’s resolutions and joint orders.

The assailed issuances earlier found probable cause against petitioners on several counts of graft arising from the disbursements of the PDAF of accused senators Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr, Jinggoy Ejercito and Juan Ponce Enrile for 2006-2010, 2004-2010 and 2004 to 2012, respectively./rga