The Office of the Ombudsman has denied the motion for reconsideration of former Nueva Ecija governor Aurelio Umali to reverse its previous decision dismissing him from service with forfeiture of retirement benefits and perpetual disqualification.
In a three-page order, the Ombudsman said “the motions are devoid of merit.”
“Wherefore, the motions for reconsideration are denied,” it read.
The charges stemmed from a complaint accusing Umali and Renato Manantan, executive regional director of Department of Agriculture in Region 3, of conspiracy with some bogus foundations to pave the way for the release of Umali’s Priority Development Assistance Fund worth P15 million in 2015.
The complaint said Umali connived with Masaganang Ani Para sa Magsasaka Foundation Inc., one of the fake foundations linked to detained Janet Lim Napoles, the alleged mastermind in the P10-billion pork barrel fund involving three senators.
Umali entered into a memorandum of agreement with MAMFI for the procurement and distribution of P12 million worth of liquid fertilizer.
On the other hand, the Samahan ng mga Manininda ng Prutas sa Gabi Inc. was named as the beneficiary of a water pump worth P3 million.
Umali and MAMFI procured 7,920 bottles of liquid fertilizer allegedly for P1,500 per bottle, but findings showed the market price of the fertilizer only ranged from P10 to P150 per bottle, and that there was no real purchase since the fertilizers were sourced from Nutrigrowth Philippines, one of Napoles’ companies. “‹