Rep. Prospero Pichay Jr.
Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay Jr. (first district) faces new charges of graft and unethical conduct for allegedly sponsoring a 2010 chess tournament held in his honor using P1.5 million in public funds.
The Ombudsman’s Office of the Special Prosecutor filed the new charges at the Sandiganbayan on Tuesday, the same day the antigraft court’s fourth division dismissed a malversation charge against Pichay while ordering his trial for graft for the purchase by the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) of an insolvent thrift bank when Pichay was still LWUA head.
The new case accused Pichay of irregularities during his stint as acting chair of the LWUA board of trustees and concurrent president of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP).
Prosecutors said Pichay and other LWUA officials diverted LWUA funds to NCFP while Pichay headed both bodies.
‘Persecution’
In a statement, Pichay said he is being persecuted by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales.
He said “there’s nothing at all irregular” in the LWUA sponsorship of a chess tournament named after him.
“What is irregular is that the Ombudsman continues to wage vendetta against members of the Arroyo administration,” said Pichay, known to be one of the closest allies of ex-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
“I have long spent my personal funds just for the sake of promoting chess in the Philippines,” said Pichay.
Other LWUA officials were also charged—Wilfredo Feleo, acting LWUA deputy administrator; Emmanuel Malicdem, senior deputy administrator and Daniel Landingin (deceased), former administrator.
According to the charge sheet, Pichay voted to allocate P1.5 million of LWUA’s operating budget in 2010 for the chess tournament even if sponsorship of sporting events is not part of LWUA’s functions.
Pichay Cup
Malicdem heeded the NCFP request to sponsor the 2nd Chairman Prospero Pichay Jr. Cup International Chess Championship. Afterwards, Feleo and Landingin approved the disbursement voucher for the fund release, with Landingin certifying that the expense was necessary and lawful.
Prosecutors said LWUA officials disregarded austerity measures to divert public funds in Pichay’s favor “to the prejudice of the Filipino people.”
Pichay was also charged with conflict of interest. Bail was fixed at P40,000 for Pichay and P30,000 for the other LWUA officials.
The arraignment of Pichay for his other graft case involving the sale of an insolvent bank to LWUA, however, was postponed again.
Aside from Pichay, the others charged with graft over the deal are Rep. Weslie Gatchalian, whose family owned the bank, which was bought with LWUA funds.