Ombudsman indicts Davao Sur gov for graft

The Ombudsman has filed corruption charges against Davao del Sur Gov. Douglas Cagas before the Sandiganbayan for allegedly misusing P16 million in pork barrel funds and pocketing P9.3 million in kickbacks when he was representative of the province’s first legislative district in 2007.

Cagas, who is out on bail for the 2010 murder of journalist Nestor Bedolido, faces two counts of graft, two counts of malversation and one count of direct bribery.

The Ombudsman, which filed the charges last week, recommended a bail of P160,000 for Cagas (P30,000 for each count of graft, P40,000 for each count of malversation and P20,000 for one count of direct bribery).

Sixteen others were charged with him, including alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Napoles and her alleged conduit to legislators, former Energy Regulatory Commission chair Zenaida Ducut.

Cagas, who is on his third term as Davao del Sur governor, was accused of twice allocating P8 million from the legislative Priority Development Assistance Fund or pork barrel for ghost livelihood projects in January and February 2007.—DONA Z. PAZZIBUGAN