La Union solon Dumpit Jr. charged over PDAF scam

Sandiganbayan. INQUIRER PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA

Updated 8 p.m.

Former La Union representative Thomas Dumpit Jr. was charged before the Sandiganbayan with graft, malversation of public funds, and malversation through falsification of public documents for his alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam.

According to information filed by Ombudsman prosecutors, Dumpit gave undue benefit to the bogus foundations Aaron Foundation of the Philippines, Inc. (AFPI), Kabuhayan at Kalusugan Alay sa Masa Foundation (KKMFI) which implemented ghost projects from his 2008 Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) amounting to P5.85 million.

Dumpit was charged for endorsing the NGOs without the benefit of a public bidding, and even though the foundations were not qualified to implement the projects.

READ: Ex-La Union solon indicted for pork barrel scam 

The prosecution accused Dumpit and his co-accused of giving “unwarranted benefits and preferences” to the bogus NGOs “allowing it to unduly profit from the fictitious transaction,” and causing undue injury to government.

Dumpit was also charged with two counts of malversation of public funds for allowing the fake NGOs to “misappropriate PDAF-drawn public funds, instead of implementing the PDAF-funded projects, which turned out to be non-existent.”

He was also charged with two counts of malversation through falsification by allegedly misappropriating the PDAF by “facilitat(ing) the preparation and submission of falsified reports and documents.”

Dumpit was charged with Godofredo Roque, who is said to have operated his own ring of bogus foundations to rival the network of Janet Lim-Napoles, who is separately charged with three senators over another pork barrel scam. CBB

Charged with Dumpit are Antonio Ortiz, Dennis Cunanan, Francisco Figura, Rosalinda Lacsamana, Consuelo Espiritu, Marivic Jover, officials of the defunct implementing agency Technology Resource Center and accused of releasing the PDAF to the bogus NGO without verifying the qualification and accreditation of the foundations.

The following private individuals were also included in the charge sheet – Roque, Flerida Alberto, Marilou Antonio, Marilou Ferrer, Rodrigo Doria, and Miraflor Villanueva of KKMFI; and Bernadette Cabrera, Aurora Trinidad, Isabel Borja, Roderick Estacio, Analyn Bonifacio, Maricel Jacob, Morrys Ang, Fe Magtira, Reynaldo Guevarra, Luisita Sese, Al Ablaza and Alejandro Orpilla of AFPI; and Carmelita Barredo of CC Barredo Publishing House.

Dumpit was earlier charged before the Sandiganbayan with graft and malversation, this time over the alleged misuse of his P43.65-million pork barrel fund. CBB

READ: Former La Union solon to face trial for P44-M pork barrel scam