‘Strong evidence vs ex-Davao del Norte lawmaker in pork scam’

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan said it has found strong evidence of graft and malversation against former Davao del Norte congressman Arrel Olaño, businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles and former officials of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) in connection with the pork barrel scam.

In a seven-page resolution promulgated on March 22, the anti-graft court’s second division denied Olaño’s motion for leave to file a demurrer to evidence, which would have paved the way for him to seek the outright dismissal of the charges filed against him without presenting his defense.

The court also denied similar motions filed by Napoles, former DBM officials Mario Relampagos, Rosario Nuñez, Lalaine Paule and Marilou Bare, deputy director general of the now defunct Technology Resource Center Dennis Cunanan and former TRC group manager Ma. Rosalinda Lacsamana.

The second division said the prosecution team of the Office of the Ombudsman was able to present sufficient testimonial and documentary evidence, which, if unrebutted, warrants the conviction of Olaño and his co-accused.

Filed by the ombudsman in 2016, the cases against Olaño involve three counts each of graft and malversation of public funds and direct bribery.

The ombudsman said Olaño endorsed two of the fake non-government organizations supposedly owned by Napoles to be the beneficiaries of his Priority Development Assistance Fund worth P7.72 million in exchange for P3.175 million worth of kickbacks.