Ex-Surigao governor charged with graft, plunder

MANILA, Philippines — Plunder, malversation and graft charges were filed yesterday against former Surigao del Norte governor Francisco Matugas for alleged fund misuse, which he reportedly committed before he stepped down from office last year.

The charges were filed before the Office of the Ombudsman by Oscar Pospia Jr., chief of staff in the office of Surigao del Norte Gov. Robert Lyndon Barbers.

Pospia asked the ombudsman to investigate possible violations of various laws including Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

In the complaint, Pospia alleged that Matugas committed at least 120 counts of graft when he donated dozens of motor vehicles and computer laptops right after he lost in the May 2022 elections.

Matugas also allegedly donated several properties of the province to local government units headed by his relatives or political allies.

Pospia, who is also chief of the provincial environment and natural resources office, alleged that Matugas did not observe legal procedures when he donated immovable and movable properties of the provincial government with an estimated value of P270 million.

The properties would have been sufficient to meet the needs of the provincial government in discharging its mandates, the complaint read.

In a separate statement, Pospia said he filed multiple charges including plunder against the former governor over the alleged unlawful use of the rehabilitation and provincial disaster management funds amounting to P60 million.

The funds were intended for victims of Super Typhoon Odette that struck the province in December 2021.  

The STAR tried but failed to reach Matugas for comment.