GOVERNOR Roel Degamo of Negros Oriental is facing 11 counts of malversation through falsification of documents and one count of graft before the Sandiganbayan for the questionable use of P480 million in calamity fund.
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales found probable cause to indict Degamo for proceeding to award 11 infrastructure projects despite lack of funds.
Also facing charges were provincial treasurer Danilo Mendez and provincial accountant Teodorico Reyes.
The charges arose from the illegal use of the calamity fund for the repair, rehabilitation and construction of structures damaged by Typhoon “Sendong” in 2011 and the 6.9 magnitude earthquake in 2012.
Upon Degamo’s request, the Department of Budget and Management issued a special allotment and release order of P961.5 million, out of which P480.7 million was immediately released to the provincial government.
A few days later, the DBM informed Degamo that the special allotment and release order was being withdrawn over the province’s failure to comply with existing guidelines for infrastructure projects.
Despite the notice, Degamo, Mendez and Reyes still awarded the infrastructure contracts amounting to P143.2 million, representing the 15-percent advance payment to contractors.
Upon audit, the Commission on Audit issued 11 notices of disallowance, citing the funds were certified available despite the withdrawal of the order.
In finding probable cause, Morales said “their unilateral act of ignoring DBM’s authority is indicative of bad faith, manifest partiality and/or gross inexcusable negligence which caused undue injury to the government.”