Dumpit faces yet another batch of pork barrel cases

Former La Union 2nd Dist. Rep. Thomas Dumpit Jr. is facing a third batch of pork barrel-related charges before the Sandignbayan, this time in connection with the alleged misuse of P14.55 million in 2008.

READ: Dumpit, others face graft raps over pork scam

Dumpit and four officials of the state firm National Agribusiness Corp. were charged with two counts of violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, one count of malversation, and one count of malversation through falsification.

The cases arose from the alleged diversion of Dumpit’s Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) proceeds to livelihood projects for farmers, which turned out not to have been implemented.

The scheme allegedly allowed nongovernment organization Kasangga sa Magandang Bukas Foundation, Inc. (KMBFI) to “unduly profit from the fictitious transaction.”

According to Ombudsman prosecutors, Dumpit endorsed KMBFI for his PDAF-funded projects without the benefit of public bidding in disregard of appropriation laws and the Government Procurement Reform Act.

Meanwhile, the Ombudsman prosecutors faulted the Nabcor officials for processing the release of the payments without carefully examining and verifying the accreditation and qualifications of KMBFI to take on the projects, as well as the documents for its purported transactions.

KMBFI chief finance officer and project coordinator Marilou Antonio supposedly prepared fictitious reports and other liquidation documents to make it appear the projects were implemented.

Besides Dumpit and Antonio, also charged were Nabcor president Alan Javellana, administrative and finance director Rhodora Mendoza, and general service unit heads Romulo Relevo and Ma. Julie Asor Villaralvo-Johnson.

Prosecutors recommended that bail be set at P300,000 for each defendant for the four criminal charges.

Dumpit was first charged in February with nine counts each of graft and malversation over the alleged diversion of P43.65-million PDAF funds to Kabuhayan at Kalusugang Alay sa Masa Foundation, Inc. (KKAMFI) from 2009 to 2010. State firm National Livelihood Development Corp. (NLDC) was involved in this set of cases as the implementing agency for the KKAMFI projects.

In August, the Ombudsman charged Dumpit with four counts each of graft and malversation in connection with the alleged misuse of P5.85 million for ghost projects implemented by state firm Technology Resource Center in partnership with KKAMFI and another NGO, Aaron Foundation Philippines, Inc., in 2008.

Antonio was also Dumpit’s coaccused in these earlier set of cases in her capacity as KKAMFI representative. /jpv