Ex-Isabela solon faces graft raps over 'pork' misuse

MANILA, Philippines —  A former Isabela congressional representative is now facing two counts of graft after he allegedly siphoned P20 million of his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) to his own non-government organization in 2007.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales ordered the indictment of ex-Isabela Rep. Anthony Miranda also for two counts of malversation raps for illegally channelling his 2007 PDAF to an organization he established.

Also indicted for the same charges are ex-Technology Resource Center (TRC) Director Antonio Ortiz, ex-Deputy Director Dennis Cunanan, Chief Accountant Marivic Jover, Group Managers Maria Rosalinda Lacsamana and Francisco Figura, ex-Legislative Liaison Officer Belina Concepcion, and Aksyon Makamasa Foundation Inc. (AMFI) representatives Domingo Mamauag and Edison Sabio.

"Miranda misappropriated his PDAF amounting to P20,060,000.00 in 2007 through a scheme involving livelihood projects in his district but which turned out to be non-existent or ghost," a 41-page resolution read.

The resolution added that the funds were diverted to Miranda's possession and control, through AMFI, an NGO he founded and controlled.

Based on Securities and Exchange Commission records, AMFI is a non-stock and non-profit association incorporated by Miranda as its chairman.

In its Special Audits Office Report, the Commission on Audit discovered that on Jan. 15, 2007, the Department of Budget and Management released a total of P21 million to TRC upon Miranda's request. 

Miranda then sent letters to TRC endorsing AMFI as implementing NGO of livelihood projects funded by his PDAF.

On March 12 and March 30, 2007, Miranda, Ortiz and Sabio entered into separate Memoranda of Agreement (MOA) to facilitate the transfer of almost P20 million with the corresponding Release Memoranda and Disbursement Vouchers accomplished, signed and approved a day after.

"Miranda had treated his PDAF as if it were his own funds, dictating how it should be utilized and released. Through Mamauag, Miranda received the amount comprising 95 percent of his PDAF on 12 March 2007 and 02 April 2007 respectively without submitting any progress reports or liquidation documents despite demands," the resolution read.

It added that the respondents did not bother to conduct with due diligence an audit on AMFI as to its capability and qualification to undertake the project as no documents were presented for evaluation and verification for NGO-accreditation purposes.    

The memorandum also did not provide for a schedule of fund releases and instead, "the MOA granted full responsibility to AMFI in the disposition/disbursement of iranda’s PDAF," it said.

To date, the P20-million PDAF remains unliquidated.

Ortiz, Cunanan and their staff, meanwhile, are also accused in graft charges in PDAF scams linked to businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles.