3 ex-gov’t officials convicted for graft, malversation

Inquirer file photo / Vince F. Nonato.

The Sandiganbayan on Tuesday convicted for graft and malversation three former officials of the defunct Technology Resource Center (TRC) for greenlighting the disbursement of a former Laguna lawmaker’s “pork barrel” funds worth P10 million for a ghost livelihood project in 2007.

The antigraft court’s Sixth Division sentenced former TRC deputy director general Dennis Cunanan, former program manager Maria Rosalinda Lacsamana and chief accountant Marivic Jover to serve up to eight years in prison for graft, and up to 18 years and eight months for malversation of public funds.

All three were barred for holding public office while their retirement and gratuity benefits were deemed forfeited … On top of this, they were each ordered to pay P9.8 million—equivalent to the misappropriated state funds. They were also ordered to “solidarily refund” to the treasury bureau the same amount, with an interest of 6 percent per annum until fully paid.

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The court, on the other hand, acquitted Francisco Figura, another TRC program manager, after the prosecution failed to prove he was part of the “conspiracy loop.”

The conviction of the three TRC officers was based on the irregular diversion in 2007 of P10 million in public funds from the pork barrel of then Laguna Rep. Danton Bueser to bankroll a livelihood program that turned out to be fictitious.

According to the court, the TRC sent the funds to a bogus nongovernmental organization (NGO), the Aaron Foundation Philippines Inc., without a notarized memorandum of agreement (MOA) against Commission on Audit rules. A MOA was later executed, but only after the funds were released to the NGO. There was also no list of beneficiaries, estimated cost, procedures for implementation and monitoring requirements. INQ