Honasan faces graft raps over ‘pork’ scam

MANILA, Philippines - Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales yesterday directed the filing of graft charges against Sen. Gregorio Honasan II for his alleged involvement in the pork barrel fund scam.

Like senators Ramon Revilla Jr., Jinggoy Estrada and Juan Ponce Enrile who were also tagged in the scam, Honasan would be indicted before the Sandiganbayan for alleged misuse of his priority development assistance fund (PDAF) allocations.

The Office of the Ombudsman said Honasan allegedly gave P29.1 million to a questionable nongovernment organization (NGO) for the implementation of programs and projects that would benefit Muslim Filipinos in Metro Manila and Zambales.

Based on its investigation, the Office of the Ombudsman found that in April 2012, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) released P30 million as part of the lawmaker’s PDAF to the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) as implementing agency. 

The money was intended to finance small and medium enterprises/livelihood projects for the benefit of Muslim Filipinos in the National Capital Region and Zambales.

But documents showed that in June 2012, Honasan endorsed Focus Development Goals Foundation Inc. as NGO-partner without the benefit of compliance with procurement regulations.

The Office of the Ombudsman also said the check dated May 30, 2012 and disbursement voucher approving the payment “were prepared by public respondents in favor of Focus even before the NGO was informed that it was found not qualified to undertake the project on June 4, 2012.”

Results of the probe also showed that “the MOA was signed by the Office of Senator Honasan, NCMF and Focus and Honasan authorized the release of funds to Focus.” 

The Office of the Ombudsman said Honasan and his co-accused in the case facilitated and approved the payment in favor of Focus in two tranches totaling P29.1 million.

Among Honasan’s co-accused are political affairs/project coordinator chief Michael Benjamin and NCMF executives Mehol Sadain, Fedelina Aldanese, Galay Makalinggan, Sania Busran, Aurora Aragon-Mabang and Olga Galido. 

Also included in the complaints are Focus officers Giovanni Manuel Gaerlan and Salvador Gaerlan.

Despite issuance of an order, Honasan allegedly failed to answer the accusations and submit his counter-affidavit during the investigation.

“The repeated illegal transfers of public funds to the NGO resulted in quantifiable, pecuniary losses to the government, thus constituting undue injury within the context of Section 3(e) of RA No. 3019,” Morales said.

Honasan denies charges

Honasan said yesterday he was saddened and surprised by the move of the ombudsman to recommend the filing of charges against him.

“I did not violate any law, I followed the rules. But I believe and trust the judicial system,” Honasan told reporters.

When asked whether he believes he will be acquitted in the end, the senator said: “Yes, I’m sure the truth will come out.”

He also lamented that his name is being besmirched by the case and it is now affecting his family.

Once the charges are filed, Honasan would be the fourth senator to be charged for alleged misuse of PDAF.

Revilla and Estrada, who are now undergoing trial, have remained in detention at the Philippine National Police custodial center in Camp Crame because they were charged with the non-bailable case of plunder. – With Paolo Romero