Ex-ERC chief indicted for graft

MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman yesterday filed graft and malversation charges against former Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) chief Zenaida Ducut before the Sandiganbayan.

The criminal cases against Ducut stemmed from her alleged act of receiving kickbacks or commissions for former South Cotabato second district congressman Arthur Pingoy Jr. from the bogus non-government organizations (NGOs) of alleged pork barrel fund scam operator Janet Lim-Napoles.

This is the third graft charge filed against Ducut.

The former ERC chief was also named respondent in the “pork” cases filed against former Muntinlupa congressman Rozzano Rufino Biazon and former Davao del Sur Rep. Marc Douglas Cagas IV.

 Pingoy, who claimed that his signatures were forged, is accused of illegally releasing P20.91 million in public funds to the Technology Resource Center (TRC) and National Agribusiness Corp. (Nabcor).

The money was downloaded to fake NGOs Philippine Social Development Foundation Inc. and Social Development Program for Farmers Foundation Inc.

Ombudsman prosecutors said Pingoy received kickbacks amounting to P7.05 million from Napoles through Ducut, who served as the legislator’s agent.

The ombudsman also indicted TRC and Nabcor officials for their role in Pingoy’s pork barrel fund transactions with Napoles’ NGOs.