De Lima says 4th batch of PDAF cases to be filed

MANILA, Philippines — Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Thursday said that there will be a fourth batch of cases related to the malversation of congressional Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF)

De Lima told the House committee on appropriations that the Office of the Ombudsman's investigators and the Inter-Agency Council Against Graft and Corruption are preparingn the fourth batch of cases.

While the DOJ does not plan to file another batch of cases related to alleged "pork barrel" scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles, De Lima hinted at another possible batch of cases related to misuse of PDAF. The secretary, however, did not provide further details on the pending cases.

In September 2013, the first batch of PDAF-related criminal charges were lodged against 38 individuals, including Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr., Jinggoy Estrada and Napoles.

While in November 2013, former Customs commissioner Ruffy Biazon and 33 others were charged with graft complaints following allegations of misused pork barrel funds.

The third batch of PDAF-related cases filed on August 7 tagged Sen. Gregorio Honasan and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Director General Joel Villanueva among nine incumbent and former lawmakers as respondents.

Napoles, meanwhile, has been found guilty in a serious illegal detention charge and detained in Mandaluyong City. She is also charged with several plunder and graft counts over the siphoning of P10-billion pork barrel and P900-million Malampaya funds.