Ex-La Union rep faces third batch of 'pork' raps

MANILA, Philippines — A third batch of criminal cases has been filed against former Rep. Thomas Dumpit Jr. (La Union) over the alleged misuse of his Priority Development Assistance Fund or pork barrel.

 

Filed by the Office of the Ombudsman before the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan on October 13, the cases include two counts of violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, one count of malversation of public funds under the Revised Penal Code and one count of the complex crime of malversation through falsification also under the RPC.

 

Named as his co-accused in the case were four former officials of the abolished state firm National Agribusiness Corporation: then president Alan Javellana, Admin and Finance director Rhodora Mendoza, and General Service Unit heads Romulo Relevo and Ma. Julie Villarico-Johnson.

 

Also included as private respondent was Marilou Antonio, chief financial officer and project coordinator of Kasangga sa Magandang Bukas Foundation, Inc.

 

Based on the information of the cases, Dumpit “unilaterally chose” KMBFI as his partner foundation in implementing his livelihood projects for farmers in his district allegedly without holding a public bidding required under Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act and despite KMBFI's lack of qualification and accreditation to carry out the projects.

 

The ombudsman said the respondent NABCOR officials, on two occasions in 2008, processed and approved the release of checks totaling P14.55 million drawn from Dumpit's PDAF as payment to Kasangga “without having carefully examined and verified the accreditation and qualification of KMBFI as well as the transaction's supporting documents”.

 

Furthermore, graft investigation and prosecution officer Christian Uy said the projects were never implemented, instead KMBFI submitted fictitious reports and other liquidation documents “to make it appear that the PDAF projects were implemented”.

 

“The above acts by the accused public officials caused undue injury to the government as the livelihood projects turned out to be non-existent, thus allowing KMBFI to unduly profit from the fictitious transaction,” a portion of the charge sheet read.

 

The ombudsman recommended to the Sandiganbayan to set the respondents' bail bond at P300,000 each.

 

In August of this year, Dumpit was also charged by the ombudsman before the Sandiganbayan with four counts of graft, two counts of malversation of public funds and another two counts of malversation through falsification in connection with the alleged misuse of P5.85 million worth of his PDAF in 2008 allocated to other dubious non-government organizations Kabuhayan at Kalusugan Alay sa Masa Foundation Inc. and Aaron Foundation Philippines Inc.

 

Prior to that, Dumpit was also charged in February with nine counts of graft, three counts of malversation of public fund and six counts of malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents over the alleged misuse of P43.65-million of his PDAF from 2009 to 2010.