By Perfecto T. Raymundo
MANILA, Jan. 12 (PNA) — The Office of the Ombudsman (Ombudsman) has upheld the findings of probable cause against former Reps. Rizalina Seachon-Lañete (Masbate), Rodolfo Plaza (Agusan Del Sur), Samuel Dangwa (Benguet), Constantino Jaraula (Cagayan de Oro City) and Edgar Valdez (APEC) in connection with the misuse of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) totaling Php339 million.
Also facing criminal indictments are Janet Lim Napoles, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Undersecretary Mario Relampagos and DBM officials Rosario Nuñez, Lalaine Paule and Marilou Bare.
Likewise impleaded as co-accused are officers/representatives of the Implementing Agencies (IAs): Technology Resource Center (TRC) Director General Antonio Ortiz, Deputy Director General Dennis Cunanan and others; National Agri-Business Corp. (NABCOR) president Alan Javellana and others; National Livelihood Development Corp. (NLDC) president Gondelina Amata and others;
The officers/representatives of the non-government organizations (NGOs) also impleaded in the case included the Countrywide Agri and Rural Economic and Development Foundation (CARED), Masaganang Ani para sa Magsasaka Foundation Inc. (MAMFI), Philippine Social Development Foundation Inc, (PSDFI) and the Social Development Program for Farmer Foundation, Inc. (SDPFFI).
In five separate orders approved on Dec. 29, 2014, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales denied the Motions for Reconsideration (MRs) filed by respondents, considering that their pleadings were pro-forma or verbatim repetitions of the issues and claims raised in their counter-affidavits, which were previously duly considered and already passed upon by the Office of the Ombudsman in its October 2014 joint resolutions.
Lanete, Jose Sumalpong, Napoles and De Asis as well as Valdez, Napoles and De Asis face separate plunder charges.
The Ombudsman also upheld the finding against them and their respective sets of respondents for multiple counts of violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019, or the “Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act”.
Plaza, Dangwa and Jaraula and their respective sets of respondents face charges of malversation, direct bribery and violation of Section 3(e) of R.A. No. 3019. (PNA)