Ex-Cebu lawmaker, 6 others face graft, malversation raps

MANILA, Philippines - For allegedly misappropriating P10 million originally intended for a project of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines (GSP) in Cebu, former Cebu congresswoman Clavel Asas-Martinez and six others are facing charges of graft and malversation before the Sandiganbayan.

Martinez’s co-respondents are officials of Bogo town in Cebu – Mayor Celestino Martinez III, municipal treasurer Rhett Minguez, and municipal accountant Cresencio Verdida.

GSP officials included in the charge sheet are bookkeeper Rhodoriza Kilantang, cashier designate Julieta Quiño, and former treasurer Maria Cielo Martinez.

They are accused of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code.

In June 2002, the Office of the Ombudsman said a P10-million grant was approved for the Girl Scouts Cebu Council for its anti-illegal drug campaign.

The fund though was coursed through the Bogo municipal government, which later issued checks to the Girl Scouts.

In September 2003, the organization received Check No. 240941, amounting to P11.5 million payable to Girl Scouts Cebu from the town of Bogo.

“Instead of depositing the check to the Girl Scouts’ account, it was brought to Land Bank of the Philippines-Bogo branch and was replaced with a manager’s check in the amount of P11.5 million payable to Girl Scouts-Cebu/Ma. Cielo Martinez,” the information read.

The cash was then deposited to the account of the Girl Scouts on Oct. 20, 2003. A week later, Girl Scouts treasurer Maria Cielo Martinez, withdrew the P11.5-million cash.

“On the same date, P10 million of the P11.5 million withdrawn was deposited to the Bank of the Philippine Islands Account No. 9663006301 in the name of accused Clavel Martinez to the damage and prejudice of the government,” the information added.

The Ombudsman accused the defendants of causing “undue injury to the government” when they converted and misappropriated the fund sourced from the former congresswoman’s Priority Development Assistance Fund or pork barrel.

The anti-graft court added that although the cash was returned to the public coffers in 2005, or two years later, “it still does not discount the fact that public funds were embezzled and appropriated for personal use.”

For the defendants’ temporary liberty, the recommended bail for the graft charge is P40,000, while the malversation case is non-bailable.