Former Nueva Ecija Rep. Aurelio Umali is facing charges at the Sandiganbayan owing to his allegedly anomalous implementation of local agricultural development programs in 2005.
The Ombudsman filed at the anti-graft court four counts of violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and three counts of malversation of public funds against Umali.
It also filed graft charges against Department of Agriculture Regional Executive Director Officer-in-Charge Renato Manantan and Accountant III Narciso Maningding; while Samahan ng mga Manininda ng Prutas sa Gabi Inc. president Anita Tansipek and collector Corazon Bautista each face three counts of graft and three counts of malversation.
An Ombudsman prosecutor questioned Umali’s endorsement of SMPGI as project partner for local agricultural development programs in December 2005 without public bidding. It also said the organization was “unaccredited and unqualified to undertake the projects.”
The Ombudsman also filed one count of graft each against convicted plunderer Janet Lim Napoles, Accountant II Renato Manalansan, and Philippine Social Development Foundation Inc. president Evelyn De Leon.
The case involves Umali’s alleged endorsement of Masaganang Ani Para sa Magsasaka Inc., a Napoles-operated NGO, as project partner for local livelihood projects without public bidding and that the NGO did not have any “unaccredited and unqualified to undertake the projects.”
A bail of P30,000 for each of the accused in each of the graft charges; and P40,000 for each of those charged in each of the malversation cases was recommended.