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Friday, March 29, 2024

Miriam vows more PDAF convictions 

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Presidential bet Miriam Defensor- Santiago vowed to go after legislators involved in the multi-billion Priority Development Assistance Fund  scam even as the Ombudsman last week charged five former congressmen  with receiving kickbacks from suspected  PDAF scammer  Janet Lim-Napoles, the largest of which went to three former congressmen from Mindanao.   

According to the Ombudsman, evidence revealed that the biggest kickbacks went to former South Cotabato Rep. Arthur Pingoy Jr., who allegedly received 7.5 million pesos; former Davao Del Sur Rep. Marc Douglas Cagas IV, who allegedly obtained 5.5 million pesos; and former Davao Del Norte Rep. Arrel Olaño, who allegedly received 3.17 million pesos.

In a speech before some 3,000 youth voters at the Our Lady of Fatima University in Valenzuela City, Santiago said that if elected, she would “expedite the investigation and prosecution of cases against those involved in the PDAF scam.”

Santiago stressed that legislators involved in the scam had to be charged and convicted to ensure that more government funds would not be diverted from public use.   

“If these corrupt politicians remain at large, they will return to power and again steal public funds,” Santiago said   

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After surrendering to the Department of Justice under then Secretary Leila De Lima, whistleblower Benhur Luy implicated 14 senators, 120 congress representatives, and several bogus NGOs in the PDAF scam.   

However,   by the time De Lima stepped down to run for the Senate, charges had only been filed against three opposition senators and 25 members of the House.

Apart  from Pingoy, Cagas, and Olaño, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales last week affirmed the findings of probable cause to indict former representatives Rozzano Rufino Biazon (Muntinlupa City), Rodolfo Valencia (1st district of Oriental Mindoro), and several others in connection with the PDAF scam.   

In five separate Orders, Ombudsman Morales directed the filing of Informations before the Sandiganbayan for violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act    No. 3019), Malversation (Article 217, Revised Penal Code), and Direct Bribery against the five congressmen and officials of the Energy Regulatory Commission including ERC Chairperson Zenaida Ducut, the Department of Budget and Managemen, Technology Resource Center, National Business Corp. and representatives of non-governmental organizations including Janet Lim Napoles.

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