The former president of the Bataan Shipyard and Engineering Co. (Baseco) was formally charged with graft and malversation for allegedly falsifying documents to favor a company’s P3.554 million settlement of unpaid debts to Baseco.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor under the Ombudsman filed one count of graft or violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and one count of malversation through falsification of document under the Revised Penal Code against retired naval captain Proceso Maligalig, then a Baseco president and board director.
Maligalig once served as a spokesperson of the Rebolusyonaryong Alyansang Makabansa (RAM), a military group led by rebel soldier and now Senator Gringo Honasan.
Maligalig’s charges stemmed from Northstar Transport Facilities settlement of its unpaid lease worth P4.819 million in connection with a contract of lease for Baseco’s properties on the Engineer Island and in Port Area, Manila from 2009 to 2010.
Prosecutors accused Maligalig of misappropriating through falsification the P3.554 million Northstar paid as full settlement when he executed the release, waiver and quitclaim dated March 2010 in favor of Northstar by “making an untruthful statement” that the Baseco board of directors approved the resolutions for the settlement.
Prosecutors said Maligalig made an untruthful statement that he issued the release, waiver and quitclaim to implement the board’s resolutions “when in truth and in fact, said statement is absolutely false because the Baseco Board of Directors neither approved not issued such resolutions… to the damage and prejudice of Baseco, the government and the public interest.”
Prosecutors said Maligalig failed to remit the settlement amount to Baseco, causing undue injury to Baseco and the government.
Prosecutors also accused Maligalig of graft for allegedly using his position to give undue benefit to Northstar when he executed the release, waiver and quitclaim without authority from the Baseco Board of Directors.
Prosecutors said Maligalig “caus(ed) undue injury to Baseco and the government in the total amount of P4.819 million that was due from Northstar, giving Northstar unwarranted benefits and advantage.”
The prosecution said no bail is recommended in Maligalig’s graft case, while it recommended a P200,000 bail in his complex malversation case.
Among the witnesses to testify against Maligalig are the Presidential Commission on Good Government chairperson, Baseco board of directors, corporate secretary, and finance officer, as well as the Northstar chairman and president Gerard Rabonza.
Maligalig and other Baseco officials also face separate plunder and graft complaints for allegedly allocating to themselves excessive compensation and questionable cash advances amounting to P220 million.
Baseco is now a government-owned and controlled corporation after the government sequestered it from Alfredo “Bejo” Romualdez, brother-in-law of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos and brother of former first lady and now Ilocos Rep. Imelda Marcos. Baseco was part the Marcos cronies’ ill-gotten wealth. JE/rga
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