THE Ombudsman has filed with the Sandiganbayan 97 counts of graft and malversation cases against two former Cabinet officials of the Arroyo administration and detained businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles over the alleged P900-million Malampaya fund scam.
Charged were former Budget chief and incumbent Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. and former Agrarian Reform secretary and now Masui City, Lanao del Sur Mayor Nasser Pangandaman for violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents.
The respondents are accused of diverting P900 million from the Malampaya fund allocated by DBM to DAR between 2009 to 2010 and in the process using 12 Napoles-led non-government organizations as conduits to the fraud.
Andaya allegedly approved the request of DAR and signed the Special Allotment Release Order and Notice of Cash Allocation requested by Pangandaman even prior to the review of the DBM’s budget and management bureau.
Andaya Jr. immediately expressed hope he would be acquitted from the downgraded criminal charges, telling reporters “I welcome the filing of the case, confident that at the end, when my side will be fully heard and the evidence I submit will be appreciated, truth will prevail and I shall be acquitted of the charges against me.”
He added: “I have full faith in our justice system even as I wish that the case will proceed in a fair and fast manner.”
Andaya said the charges were downgraded after the Ombudsman only filed graft and malversation through falsification of public documents instead of plunder cases.
“Let me note that the charges have been downgraded from plunder to malversation, which means that the original indictment actively sought has been debunked,” Andaya said.
Andaya was charged with conspiring with former President and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in tapping the Malampaya funds for the rehabilitation of Ondoy-damaged areas.
However, the Ombudsman dismissed the case against Arroyo, despite the fact that it was she who ordered Andaya to release the funds.
The respondents were accused of diverting P900 million from the Malampaya funds allocated by the Department of Budget and Management to the Department of Agrarian Reform in 2009 and in the
process using 12 Janet Lim Napoles-led non government organizations as conduits to the alleged fraud.
Aside from Andaya, the Ombudsman filed criminal charges against former Budget Usec. Mario Relampagos, former Agrarian Reform Sec. Nasser Pangandaman, ex-DAR officials Narciso Nieto Teresita Panlilio,
A total bail bond of P22.31 million “• P2.91 million for graft and P19.4 million malversation “• has been recommended for each of the respondents in the case.