Ombudsman orders filing of graft raps vs ex-Sarangani gov, 6 others

MANILA, Philippines - Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales yesterday ordered the filing of graft charges against former Sarangani governor Miguel Escobar and six other individuals before the Sandiganbayan.

The case stemmed from how Escobar supposedly granted P450,000 in financial assistance to a fishermen’s group in 2002.

Evidence gathered by graft probers showed that the money was released based allegedly on a fictitious request and worse, no money was really given to or received by the beneficiary.

Apart from Escobar, Morales also ordered the filing of graft cases against board member Juanito Purisima; executive assistant to the vice governor Amelia Carmela Zoleta; accountant IV Suzette Clerigo; and management analyst Alexis de la Cruz.

Morales also ordered the indictment of private respondent Velsie Banzon, treasurer of the Malapatan Fishermen’s Group.

The complaint against Escobar and the rest of the respondents alleged that they caused the disbursement of P450,000 through a Development Bank of the Philippines check to Banzon on May 29, 2002.

The respondents allegedly made it appear that the financial assistance was requested and given to the fishermen’s group, with Escobar pointed to as the one who approved the fictitious request and even certified “in the disbursement voucher that the cash advance was necessary, lawful and incurred under his direct supervision.”

The graft charge said Clerigo certified as to the “completeness and propriety of the supporting documents des-pite no compliance with Commission on Audit (COA) Circular No. 96-003 providing for the documentary requirements in disbursements for financial assistance.”

Graft probers learned that there was neither a request for financial assistance nor was there financial assistance received by the Malapatan Fishermen’s Group after the check was encashed.

The Office of the Ombudsman said Escobar and the other respondents misappropriated and converted the amount to their personal benefit, thus causing “undue injury to the government.”