THE Sandiganbayan’s Third Division has issued a hold-departure order against former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Nur Misuari over the six criminal charges leveled against him that stemmed from his alleged fraudulent procurement contracts worth P115.22 million.
The anti-graft court issued the order after the Office of the Ombudsman charged Misuari with three counts of graft and three counts of misuse of public funds.
Misuari aside, the Sandiganbayan also issued hold-departure orders against his co-accused Director Leovegilda Cinches, chief accountant Pangalian Maniri and supply officer Sittie Aisa Usman who are similarly facing six charges and are all from the Education Department.
The hold-departure order also covers Education Department-ARMM accountant Alladin Usi, ARMM resident auditor Nader Macagaan, and private individuals Cristeta Ramirez of CPR Publishing and Lolita Sambeli of White Orchid Printing and Publishing House.
Ombudsman Prosecutor Modesto Onia Jr. and assistant special prosecutor Jorge Espinal said the procurement contracts were divided into three separate transactions. The first was dated Dec. 21, 2000 involving P31 million worth of “information technology package”; another dated July 24, 2001 for P46.26 million worth of “multi-media information technology package”; and the last one dated September 2001 for P37.96 million worth of “educational materials.”
The Ombudsman says all three purchase orders were fictitious as there was no evidence that actual deliveries took place.
All defendants were held liable for allegedly causing undue injury to the government in the graft cases while the funds misuse charges accused them of conspiracy to defraud the regional government by allegedly pocketing the entire sums for their own benefits.