ZeroTolerance.Org, a grassroots organization that aims to expose corrupt practices in the Philippines, has filed a plunder case against former House Speaker and former Camarines Sur Congressman Arnulfo Fuentebella and his wife, incumbent Sangay Mayor Evelyn Fuentebella, stating that both respondents “have to be made accountable for illegally amassing of wealth and for plunder of public funds to the great prejudice of the Filipino people.”
In the complaint filed before the Office of the Ombudsman, ZeroTolerance.Org said that Arnulfo Fuentebella should be held accountable for the unexplained wealth that he allegedly accumulated or misappropriated during his terms as Camarines Sur congressman, including the alleged misdeclaration of assets in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Networth. This complaint states that the respondents have, without any acceptable explanation, accumulated wealth valued at around P186.6 million, while in public office, Zero Tolerance said.
The group listed several incidents of the former House Speaker’s misappropriation, malversation, and misuse of public funds: (1) construction of a multi-purpose building, a pavement, and other infrastructures, worth an estimated P10.9 million, in their family’s privately owned property in Sagnay, Camarines Sur; (2) construction of a sports complex, roads, and another multi-purpose building, worth P28.7 million, in the family-owned Abo Farm in Tigaon, Camarines Sur; and (3) construction of an irrigation system in another privately owned estate in Tigaon, Camarines Sur, worth at least P5.6 million of government funds from the National Irrigation Administration.
Apart from these, the organization also took note of Fuentebella’s unaccounted PDAF worth P 11,360,000, which was allegedly used to buy rice from the National Food Authority but was unsupported by any project proposals.
ZeroTolerance.Org conducted its own investigation into the alleged ill-gotten wealth of the Fuentebellas, including one accomplice, Fidelis Apalisok, who allowed property registration in his name for the purpose of hiding illegally amassed assets. Part of its initial research came from the Commission on Audit Special Audits Office report on “Priority Development Assistance Fund and Various Infrastructures including Local Projects” and the Department of Public Works and Highways official website.
The organization said it uncovered several illegally amassed assets, including several luxury vehicles which are presently registered in the names of other individuals, in an apparent guise to hide these illegally amassed assets. Travel documents were likewise discovered, which would also show that the former speaker and his family often travel abroad, with some of the family members even making use of diplomatic passports. ZeroTolerance.Org questions the lifestyle and properties of the respondents, whose only source of income comes from their government salaries. The organization believes that the public has the right to know how government funds are used.
ZeroTolerance.Org said that this is the first of many corruption cases to be filed against other government officials, both at the local and national levels.
