Ombuds okays charges vs. Clavel, et al.

CEBU, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman has approved the filing of malversation and graft charges against former Cebu fourth district Rep. Clavel Asas Martinez and five other officials before the Sandiganbayan.

Acting Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro upheld the findings and recommendation of the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas to indict Martinez and her son, former Bogo mayor Celestino “Tining” Martinez III, municipal treasurer Rhett Minguez, municipal accountant Cresencio Verdida, bookkeeper Rhodariza Kilantang, Girl Scout of the Philippines-Cebu Council cashier Julieta Quiño and former GSP treasurer Maria Cielo Martinez.

The case stemmed from the complaint filed by the Ombudsman’s field investigation office alleging that, from September to October 2003, the respondents conspired in misappropriating P10 million.

The P10 million, which was taken from Martinez’s Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) for that year, was intended for donation to GSP-Cebu.

The former lawmaker was the president of the GSP-Cebu Council from 1995 to 2003.

Investigation conducted by the anti-graft office showed that the amount was deposited to Martinez’s personal account in the Bank of Philippine Islands.

The anti-graft investigators discovered that at least P11.5 million from Martinez’s PDAF was released through a Land Bank of the Philippines check dated September 17, 2003 with the GSP or its treasurer as payee.

Later, Quiño allegedly applied for a manager’s check in the same amount at LBP-Bogo. In her application, the payee for the check was the GSP or Ma. Cielo A. Martinez, the treasurer.

Further investigation showed that on October 20, 2003, the P11.5 million was then deposited to the BPI account of GSP. But one week later, the amount was withdrawn by Ma. Cielo Martinez and was deposited to the BPI account of Clavel Martinez.

During investigation, the Ombudsman said, it was established that of the P11.5 million, P1.5 million was erroneously released as part of Martinez’s PDAF when it was actually a fund for the Bayan Muna party-list.

The P1.5 million was then returned by GSP to the then municipality of Bogo, thus only P10 million remained unaccounted for, the investigation showed.

The FREEMAN had contacted Tining Martinez’s mobile phone for his comment last night but nobody answered.

The FREEMAN also tried but failed to contact the former congresswoman.

During investigation, the respondents said the P10 million was already returned to the government coffers in 2005, or two years later.

But anti-graft investigators insisted that it still does not discount the fact that public funds were embezzled and appropriated for personal use. — /LPM (FREEMAN)