InterAksyon The online news portal of TV5 Ombudsman probes ex-DAR chief, whistleblower Benhur Luy and 37 others for P200-M fund scam By: Jaime Sinapit, InterAksyon August 5, 2013 7:50 PM MANILA, Philippines - A former agrarian reform chief turned party-list lawmaker, and the key whistleblower in the alleged misuse of pork barrel lead the list of 39 people to be investigated by a special panel formed Monday by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales. The panel will focus on the alleged misuse of the P200 million allotted for agri-business development under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), during the term of former DAR secretary and now AA-Kasosyo party-list Representative Nasser Pangandaman. Morales said the Special Panel is composed of five lawyers who “shall hear the formal complaint filed” against Pangandaman and other respondents. The panel will conduct preliminary investigation and administrative adjudication of the criminal and administrative charges filed by the Field Investigation Office (FIO) after the FIO finishes work on its case build-up---a process that began even before Benhur Luy blew the whistle on the reported “pork barrel scam” after parting ways with his long-time employer, businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles. Also impleaded in the criminal complaint for violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) and Falsification under Article 171, pars. (1) and (2) of the Revised Penal Code are DAR Undersecretary Narciso Nieto, Director Teresita Panlilio, Chief Accountant Angelita Cacananta, Budget Officer Ronald Venancio, Cashier Nilda Baui, three notaries public, three certified public accountants, and 24 private individuals including Benhur Luy. Pangandaman, Nieto, Panlilio, Venancio and Baui are, meanwhile, facing administrative charges for grave misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, gross neglect of duty, and serious dishonesty. According to the FIO complaint, the DAR officials in 2007 and 2008 granted funds for “Agri-Business Development,” “Micro-Livelihood Project” or "Agricultural Production” to seven nongovernment organizations (NGOs), in violation of the Commission on Audit (COA) circular on the release of funds to NGOs and POs. The projects appeared to have been delivered to certain municipalities in Cagayan, Pangasinan, Cavite, Dinagat Island, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, and Agusan del Sur, but the supposed beneficiaries denied having signed or received anything. interaksyon/article/68008/ombudsman-probes-ex-dar-chief-whistleblower-benhur-luy-and-37-others-for-p200-m-fund-scam
Posted on: Thu, 19 Sep 2013 11:14:42 +0000
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