MANILA, Philippines- Hinatulan ng Sandiganbayan ang isang opisyal ng Janet Lim Napoles-linked non-government organization (NGO) na guilty sa graft and malversation of public funds sa “misuse” ng P3.5 milyong halaga ng “pork barrel” na nagpondo sa ghost government projects.
Sinintensyahan ng korte si Philippine Social Development Foundation, Inc. (PSDFI) president Evelyn de Leon ng hindi bababa sa 28 taong pagkakakulong matapos mahatulang guilty sa two counts ng graft at two counts ng malversation of public funds.
Base sa Sandiganbayan, si De Leon ang naghanda at lumagda sa lahat ng liquidation reports ng ipinatupad na government projects na napag-alamang “non-existent.” Pinondohan ang nasabing ghost government projects ng Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), ang opisyal na pangalan ng pork barrel, ni Cagayan de Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez.
“From these liquidation reports, it is de Leon’s name and signature which appears, supported by other documents where her signature likewise appears. At face value, therefore, prosecution evidence remains unrefuted that it is de Leon who signed and submitted the liquidation reports,” pahayag ng Sandiganbayan.
“The reports of disbursement showed no attempt to itemize what were contained in the agricultural starter sets; no attempt to indicate the purchase price that somehow added up to P33,265 per set; no attempt to identify the supplier. The same was true with the delivery reports and certificates of acceptance. The lists of beneficiaries likewise did not indicate what items the beneficiaries received,” dagdag ng Sandiganbayan.
Ayon sa Sandiganbayan, walang benepisyaryong pinadalhan ng letters of confirmation ng Commission on Audit ang nagkumpirmang natanggap ang items na umano’y ibinigay sa kanila, habang itinanggi ng ilang benepisyaryo na lumagda sila sa list of beneficiaries o nakatanggap ng anumang grant mula kay Rodriguez o sa PSDFI.
“The chairpersons of the barangays where the beneficiaries supposedly resided also denied having received anything from Cong. Rodriguez or PSDFI,” anang korte.
“Lending credence to Luy’s testimony that both Ortiz and de Leon were part of the hub in the PDAF scheme, it was clearly established that de Leon performed her part which she has not denied.”
Si Antonio Ortiz, nananatiling nakalaya, ang noo’y pinuno ng state-run Technology Resource Center at co-accused ni De Leon sa two counts of graft at two counts of malversation charges.
“Thus, PSDFI, acting through its president, de Leon, was allowed by Ortiz, through the disbursement vouchers, to take and misappropriate funds under his watch and to use them for PSDFLs own benefit. Through their concerted acts, the aggregate amount of P3.5 million was misappropriated from the government when no project implementation was fully liquidated as to its intended purpose. De Leon, through her fraudulent and malicious acts on behalf of PSDFI, is criminally liable therefore,” wika ng Sandiganbayan.
“She unfortunately squandered her opportunity to clear her name, opting not to present evidence in her defense,” anito pa.
Bukod sa pagkakakulong ng hindi bababa sa 28 taon, pinagmumulta rin ng Sandiganbayan si De Leon ng P3.5 milyong katumbas ng kinulimbat na pera. RNT/SA
