Yap, Nograles face graft raps over ‘pork’

MANILA, Philippines - Former House speaker Prospero Nograles, former lawmakers Candido Pancrudo Jr. and Thomas Dumpit Jr., and Bohol Rep. Arthur Yap will undergo preliminary investigation on their alleged involvement in the pork barrel fund scam using attached agencies of the Department of Agriculture (DA) when Yap was secretary.

Reached for comment, Nograles said: “I am not aware of any investigation by the Office of the Ombudsman as I have not received any notice or formal communication from them. I am retired and now a private citizen and not public property.”

Yap answered the same when asked about the PDAF probe.

“Up to now, I have not received any notification or document from the Ombudsman. I have never ever malversed any of the PDAF,” he said.

The Office of the Ombudsman said yesterday its Field Investigation Office has filed complaints for malversation of public funds and graft against Nograles, Pancrudo, Dumpit, and Yap before its Preliminary Investigation Bureau for alleged misuse of some P163.2 million in Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) from 2007 to 2009.

The preliminary investigation will also cover officials of implementing agencies like the National Agribusiness Corp. (NABCOR), National Livelihood Development Corp. (NLDC) and the Technology Resource Center (TRC).

Officials of non-government organizations (NGOs) like the Kabuhayan at Kalusugan Alay sa Masa Foundation Inc. (KKAMFI); Buhay Mo Mahal Ko Foundation (BMMKFI); Gabay at Pag-asa ng Masa Foundation Inc. (GPMFI); Kasangga sa Magandang Bukas Foundation Inc. (KMBFI); Farmerbusiness Development Corp. (FDC); Uswag Pilipinas Foundation Inc. (UPFI); and the Aaron Foundation Philippines, Inc. (AFPI) were also made respondents in the charge sheet.

The anti-graft agency said the filing of the criminal complaint is the result of the investigation on the PDAF scam as early as July 2013 when Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales initiated the fact finding in response to news reports on the “pork barrel scam” exposé. – With Jess Diaz