Thursday, May 09, 2024

Tag: PDAF

Ex-Bukidnon solon, cohort face 70 years in jail for PDAF scam

Posted on by cmn

A former congressman from Bukidnon and a private individual face up to 70 years in prison for misuse of the politician’s pork barrel in 2007 and 2008

The Sandiganbayan affirmed the conviction of former Bukidnon Rep. Candido P. Pancrudo Jr. and private individual Johanne Edward Labay for the misuse of Pancrudo’s P36.9 million Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).

In a resolution issued on July 10, 2023, the anti-graft court denied the motions for reconsideration filed by Pancrudo on April 28 and Labay on April 29.

Both asked the anti-graft court to reverse its April 14, 2023 decision that found them guilty of eight counts of graft, four counts of malversation of public funds, and four counts of malversation through falsification of public documents.

Pancrudo and Labay were meted out imprisonment ranging from six to 10 years for each graft count, banned perpetually from holding public office, and ordered to pay P36.9 million as civil liability.

For the four counts of malversation of public funds, they were sentenced to a total prison term of 48 to 70 years with a fine of P32.8 million each.

In the malversation of public funds through falsifying public documents, jail terms ranging from six to 13 years for each count and a fine of P4.1 million each were imposed by the anti-graft court.

Pancrudo and Labay, in their motions for reconsideration, said that the prosecution failed to prove their guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

But the Sandiganbayan said it found no valid reason to reconsider or modify its decision, saying, “The arguments raised by the accused have already been considered and passed upon by the court when it rendered the decision mentioned above.”

The criminal cases against Pancrudo and Labay arose from releasing the former’s PDAF to the non-government organization (NGO) FarmerBusiness Development Corporation (FDC) to implement livelihood projects in Pancrudo’s district.

However, the prosecutors said there were several anomalies, such as the failure to conduct public bidding and that FDC needed to be an accredited foundation and had no legal authority to implement the livelihood projects.

Second Division Chairperson Oscar C. Herrera Jr. wrote the eight-page resolution. Associate Justices Arthur O. Malabaguio, Rafael R. Lagos, and Lorifel L. Pahimna concurred, while Associate Justice Michael Frederick L.

Musngi dissented. (Manila Standard)

Ex-Bukidnon lawmaker gets 187 years over ‘pork’

Posted on by cmn

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan has sentenced a former congressman in Bukidnon to 187 years in prison in connection with the alleged misuse of his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel amounting to P36.9 million from 2007 to 2008

In a 77-page decision promulgated on April 14, the anti-graft court declared former congressman Candido Pancrudo Jr. of the first district of Bukidnon guilty of eight counts of violation of Republic Act (RA) 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, four counts of malversation of public funds as provided under the Revised Penal Code and another four counts of the complex crime of malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents.

Aside from Pancrudo, the Sandiganbayan’s Second Division convicted Maria Rosalinda Lacsamana, former group manager of the abolished state firm Technology Resource Center (TRC), and private respondent Johanne Edward Labay of the non-government organization Farmerbusiness Development Corp. (FDC).

Pancrudo, Lacsamana, and Labay were sentenced to a minimum of six years to a maximum of 10 years in prison for each count of the graft offense, or a total of 48 to 80 years for the eight counts.

They were also disqualified from holding public office.

The court ordered the defendants to pay the government P36.9 million in civil liability.

As for the malversation cases, the court sentenced the defendants to 10 to 18 years in prison for one count, 14 to 18 years for each of two counts, and 10 to 16 years for another count, or a total of 48 to 70 years for the four cases.

Pancrudo and his co-defendants were each ordered to pay the court P32.8 million aside from the P32.8 million in civil liability that would be remitted to the government treasury.

As for the malversation through falsification offense, Pancrudo, Lacsamana and Labay were sentenced to two to eight years for each of the three counts and six to 13 years for another count, or a total of 12 to 37 years for the four cases.

They were each ordered to pay a fine of P4.1 million on top of a similar amount in civil liability imposed by the court.

The court acquitted the other respondents in the cases – former TRC deputy director general Dennis Cunanan, group manager Francisco Figura, budget officer Consuelo Lilian Espiritu and chief accountant Marivic Jover – after the prosecution failed to prove their guilt.

The charges against another private respondent, Victorino Ujano of the FDC, were dismissed due to his death.

The cases against TRC director general Antonio Ortiz and project consultant-designate Jesus Esmeralda were ordered archived as they remain at large, without prejudice to the revival of the charges upon their arrest or surrender.

Filed by the Office of the Ombudsman in 2017, the charges stemmed from the release of a total of P36.9 million of Pancrudo’s PDAF to FDC for the supposed implementation of livelihood projects in his district.

The ombudsman said Pancrudo picked the FDC to implement the projects without conducting public bidding in violation of RA 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act.

The ombudsman said the FDC was not an accredited foundation and had no legal authority to carry out the projects.

It said investigation showed the projects were not implemented. (Elizabeth Marcelo/The Philippine Star)