Misuari charged with graft, malversation

MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman has filed before the Sandiganbayan multiple criminal charges against Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founder Nur Misuari over alleged anomalous procurements during his term as governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

The cases include three counts of violation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and another three counts of the complex crime of malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents under the Revised Penal Code.

The cases were filed on May 22, but copies of the charge sheet were released to the media only yesterday.

Named as Misuari’s co-accused in all the cases were former regional Department of Education (DepEd)-ARMM director III Leovigilda Cinches, chief accountant Pangalian Maniri and supply officer Sittie Aisa Usman.

Former DepEd-ARMM accountant II Alladin Usi was named as co-accused in two counts each of graft and malversation through falsification, while Commission on Audit (COA)-ARMM resident auditor Nader Macagaan was named co-accused in one count each of the same charges.

Private respondents Cristeta Ramirez of CPR Publishing and Lolita Sambeli of White Orchids Printing and Publishing House were also included in the charge sheets.

Information on the cases showed that a total of P115,220,454 was paid by the ARMM government to three private suppliers from 2000 to 2001 for the supposed purchase of educational kits for the public schools in the region.

Of this amount, P31 million was allegedly paid to MBJ Learning Tools on Dec. 21, 2000 while P46.261million was paid to CPR Publishing on July 24, 2001, both for the supply of information technology packages.

Meanwhile, P37.959 million was allegedly paid to White Orchids Printing and Publishing House in September 2001 for the supply of educational materials.

Ombudsman prosecutors Jorge Espinal and Modesto Onia Jr. said none of the supposed purchased materials were ever delivered; instead, the respondents allegedly falsified disbursement vouchers, purchase orders, canvass reports, sales invoices, delivery receipts and other supporting documents to make it appear that the transactions were aboveboard.