Ombudsman slaps malversation, graft raps vs Misuari

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman approved the filing of charges against Moro National Liberation Front founder Nur Misuari over an anomalous P137.5-million contract when he was governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in 2000 and 2001.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Ombudsman said Misuari is facing three counts of malversation and three counts of violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act 3019) over the irregular procurement of educational materials.

Former Department of Education officials Director Leovigilda Cinches, supply officer Sittie Aisa Usman, accountant Alladin Usi, chief accountant Pangalian Maniri, education program specialist Bai Sherilyn Mustapha, Commission on Audit oficer Nader Macagaan also faced charges as Misuari's co-accused.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales is also set to file charges against suppliers of textbooks and educational materials, the purchase of which were approved by Misuari.

"The Office finds probable cause that Misuari [and respondents] conspired with one another while discharging their official functions, [acting] with manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence when they conspired to rig the procurement," the Ombudsman's statement read.

Based on the findings of the Commission on Audit, the payments totaling P137 million to the five suppliers that Misuari approved of were made without public bidding.

The Commission on Audit, meanwhile, also noted other irregularities in the contract such as undated and unnumbered procurement documents; absence of contracts, inventory and distribution lists; undue haste in the purchase of goods showing the rigged bidding; and non-compliance with eligibility requirements by the suppliers.

Charges against former Education Undersecretary Abdurajul Alpha and Regional Secretary Mahid Mutilan were dismissed as they passed away prior to the filing of the complaint.

While governor in 2001, Misuari fled to Sabah when he led a failed rebellion against the national government. He was arrested in 2007 on charges of terrorism and was incarcerated before he was granted bail. In 2013, a cluster of the MNLF which recognized him as leader attempted to lay siege on Zamboanga City, but the incursion was ended by government forces.

Misuari has been living in self-exile and recently resurfaced to facilitate the turn over of a Norwegian hostage of ransom-seeking Abu Sayyaf extremists to the government.