Surigao congressman faces plunder for ‘pork’ misuse

MANILA, Philippines - Surigao del Norte Rep. Francisco Matugas has been charged with plunder before the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly misusing his priority development assistance fund (PDAF) in 2009.

A complaint filed last month accused the lawmaker of using his pork barrel allocation amounting to P63.55 million for so-called intelligence and anti-insurgency expenses.

 The complaint was based on a ruling of the Commission on Audit (COA) on Sept. 13, 2012, which disallowed the use of  PDAF for this purpose.

Charges for grave misconduct and criminal complaints for malversation and illegal use of public funds were also filed against Matugas based on the COA decision.

State auditors noted that even though the General Appropriations Act of 2009 allows the use of  PDAF for  “peace and order,” it could only be used for the purchase of vans and multi-cabs and the construction or repair of police, jail and fire stations.

The members of Surigao del Norte’s anti-corruption group, Surigaonons for Good Governance Transparency and Accountability, were among the complainants.

They asked Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales to issue a preventive suspension order against Matugas pending the result of the investigation by the anti-graft agency.

“What is more appalling is that the illegal distribution (of PDAF) were made to municipalities such as San Francisco, Malimono, Bacuag, Tubod, Sison, Alegria, Mainit, Gigaquit and Taga-naan, which are situated in district two, outside Matugas’ jurisdiction,” the complainants said.