Ombudsman dismisses officials over P47.5M PDAF scam

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales MARC JAYSON CAYABYAB / INQUIRER.net

Officials of three implementing agencies, which have been abolished for their role in the pork barrel scam, were dismissed again from service for the allegedly anomalous use of former Misamis Occidental Rep. Marina Clarete’s P47.5 million pork barrel funds.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Office of the Ombudsman said it found officials of the defunct National Agribusiness Corporation (Nabcor), National Livelihood Development Corporation (NLDC), and Technology Resource Center (TRC) guilty of grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

Their dismissal over administrative offenses stemmed from  the allegedly unlawful disbursement of Clarete’s P47.5 million Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) from 2007 to 2009.

Dismissed were Nabcor manager Romulo Relevo and bookkeeper Maria Ninez Guañizo; NLDC directors Emmanuel Alexis Sevidal and Chita Jalandoni, and division chiefs Gregoria Buenaventura, Ofelia Ordoñez and Sofia Cruz; TRC chief accountant Marivic Jover and budget specialist Consuelo Espiritu.

Their dismissal came with the accessory penalties of cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, and perpetual disqualification from reemployment in the government service.

Should they be already separated from the service, the penalty would be converted to a fine equivalent to one year of their respective salaries.

The Ombudsman found that the implementing agency officials accommodated Clarete’s P47.5 million PDAF in favor of bogus NGOs Kabuhayan at Kalusugang Alay sa Masa Foundation, Inc. (KKAMFI), Kasangga sa Magandang BukasFoundation, Inc. (KMBFI) and the Aaron Foundation Philippines, Inc. (AFPI).

The Ombudsman said Clarete endorsed these NGOs as project partners in implementing integrated livelihood development projects and seminars in Misamis, An audit found the projects to be “ghosts” or inexistent.

The Ombudsman also found the list of beneficiaries, accomplishments and liquidation reports to be fictitious.
Despite the irregularities, the implementing agency officials certified the disbursements and issued the checks without verifying the supporting documents, the Ombudsman said.
“Instead of using the PDAF disbursements received by them to implement the livelihood projects, the officers of KKAMFI, KMBFI and AFPI, as well as their suppliers, all acting in conspiracy with Clarete and herein respondents, diverted the PDAF for their own personal benefits,” the Ombudsman said.

The officials are facing a spate of criminal cases before the Sandiganbayan for their involvement in the PDAF scam. CBB