THE Ombudsman ordered the filing of graft raps against former Ilocos Sur representative Salacnib Baterina before the Sandiganbayan for his alleged involvement in the anomalous use of P35-million pork barrel fund in 2007.
Baterina is facing three counts of Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, three counts of malversation and one count of direct bribery.
The Ombudsman said from January to February 2007, the Department of Budget and Management released P35 million as part of Baterina’s Priority Development Assistance Fund supposedly to fund livelihood and farm input projects for his constituents.
Field investigation, however, revealed that none of the projects were implemented and thus considered as “ghost” projects.