Another solon in hot water

THE OFFICE of the Ombudsman has recommended the indictment for graft and malversation of former Eastern Samar Rep. Teodulo Coquilla in the Sandiganbayan over the alleged misuse of P5 million from his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel allocation in 2007.

The case against Coquilla was included in the fourth batch of complaints resulting from the special audit conducted by the Commission on Audit (COA) in the wake of the P10-billion pork barrel scam controversy.

Charged along with Coquilla were former National Agri-Business Corp. (Nabcor) head Alan Javellana and his subordinates  Encarnita Cristina Munsod, Ma. Julie Villaralvo-Johnson and Romulo Relevo.

Also named respondents were Margie Luz and Ma. Cristina Vizcarra, representatives of Gabay Masa, the foundation which implemented the allegedly anomalous project.

They were charged with two counts each of malversation and violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019, popularly known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

In a statement, the Ombudsman said Coquilla and the others conspired with another in the “ghost” purchase of 32,887 seedlings of fruit-bearing trees and 10,470 pieces of instructional materials for the municipalities of Dolores, Maslog, Jipapad, Lawaan and Guiuan.