Ombudsman holds workshop regarding PDAF graft cases

CEBU, Philippines - In order to further guide graft investigators in looking into Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) cases, the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas conducted a two day orientation-workshop in their office.

Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol told the media that the event was intended to orient their graft investigators in Cebu City, Ilo-ilo and Tacloban City how the PDAF was released, its implementation and the people responsible for it.

The investigation involving PDAF cases is quite different from their normal investigations, explained Apostol, which is why he said it is important to further familiarize their investigators on the cases.

"This is to equip our investigators…the mechanisms how the PDAF was released and for them to see if there is fraud out of it," he said.

Apostol further detailed that in PDAF related cases, graft investigators need to conduct ocular inspections in the areas of concern to determine certain information like if the recipients of the PDAF like non-government organization (NGO) exist.

Earlier, he said they went to Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental to verify information that there are recipients of the PDAF of a certain lawmaker who was sued before their office.

Based on their initial findings, he disclosed that the NGOs mentioned by the lawmaker does not exist.

"Possibly there is irregularity," he said.

Apostol refused to disclose the identity of the lawmakers sued before their office involving PDAF cases since it is still under investigation. There are reportedly three lawmakers sued before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas.

After the investigation, Apostol said their office will submit the recommendation to the Office of the Ombudsman Manila which will have the final say whether or not to upgrade it to a formal complaint or to dismiss it outright.

The "Orientation-Workshop on PDAF Concepts" was a two-day event which started last Wednesday and ended yesterday and was attended by 15 participants. 

There were two speakers, Manila graft investigator officers Dennis Mendoza and John Zeman Sambajon. (FREEMAN)