Sandigan won’t junk graft raps vs ex-lawmaker

MANILA, Philippines - The Sandiganbayan Second Division has denied the petition to dismiss a charge of graft and malversation of public funds against former Agusan del Sur congressman Rodolfo Plaza.

It, however, allowed Plaza to post bail of P195,000 for his temporary freedom.

The Office of the Ombudsman charged Plaza with five counts of graft, five counts of malversation and two counts of direct bribery – all allegedly arising from the former lawmaker’s involvement in the pork barrel fund scam.

Plaza petitioned the graft court for judicial determination of probable cause, which questioned the ombudsman’s decision to indict him.

But the magistrates ruled in favor of the anti-graft body, although it allowed Plaza to post bail.

Plaza was among those charged for allegedly receiving kickbacks or commissions from ghost projects implemented by the bogus non-government organizations (NGOs) of Janet Lim-Napoles using pork barrel funds.

He allegedly received P42.1 million from 2004 to 2010 during which he had priority development assistance fund (PDAF) allocations as a member of the House of Representatives.