A former congressman from Mindanao and 15 others are facing charges for allegedly channeling part of his pork barrel to a foundation linked to Janet Napoles.
The Ombudsman filed malversation of public funds and graft charges against former congressman Constantino Jaraula of Cagayan de Oro City and the others before the Sandiganbayan.
Ombudsman investigators accused Jaraula of channeling P3 million in fertilizer funds to a foundation linked to Napoles.
Jaraula and 15 others were charged with one count each of malversation and violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
Also charged were Jose Quitazol Sr., Antonio Rosal and Eduardo Lecciones Jr. of the DA’s Central Visayas Unit; Ma. Reina Lumantas, Claudia Artazo, Martino Cajita and Joel Rudinas of the agency’s Northern Mindanao Unit and Cagayan de Oro City agriculturist Godofredo Bajas.
PSDFI officers Evelyn de Leon, Annabelle Luy, Maria Fe Escabarte, Jose Ardias, Gertrudes Kilapkilap, Henry Bucalin and Luzviminda Bucalin were likewise included in the charge sheet.
Napoles, however, was not included in Jaraula’s cases.
The case stemmed from Jaraula’s endorsement of the Philippine Social Development Foundation Inc., which was based in Taguig City, as the partner nongovernment organization to implement his project in Cagayan de Oro City using fertilizer funds from December 2003 to July 2004.
The complaint alleged that Jaraula signed the endorsement and the agreement with PSDFI even if the congressman failed to comply with the accreditation process mandates by Commission on Audit Circular 96-003, well as failed to submit the complete supporting documents.
PSDFI allegedly lacked qualifications having its funding sources as donations, grants and minimal membership fees. It also failed to submit a list of previous projects to prove its expertise.
Ombudsman Graft Investigation and Prosecution Officer III Charmaine Ruiz said despite the PSDFI's alleged failure to deliver the fertilizer, officials of the Department of Agriculture’s Central Visayas and Northern Mindanao regional units managed to release the payments to PSDFI.
Jaraula was also charged for one count of violation of Section 3(g) of the antigraft law for allegedly entering into a contract that was disadvantageous to the government.