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Ex-DA chief Yap, Napoles, other solons face graft raps over ‘pork barrel scam’


Investigators of the Office of the Ombudsman have filed new complaints for graft against former Agriculture Secretary and incumbent Bohol Representative Arthur Yap and alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles in connection with the alleged misuse of millions of pesos in lawmakers' Priority Development Assistance Fund allocations.

The probers also filed complaints before the Ombudsman against six former House members namely Rodolfo Antonino of the Fourth District of Nueva Ecija, Alvin Sandoval of Navotas-Malabon, Marina Clarete of the First District of Misamis Occidental, Reno Lim of the Third District of Albay, Teodulo Coquilla of the lone district of Easter Samar, and Anthony Miranda of the Fourth District of Isabela. 


The investigation involved gathering documents and witnesses based on the Commission on Audit (COA) Special Audits Office Report No. 2012-03 which involved a total of P6.156 billion worth of PDAF released from 2007 to 2009 by various implementing agencies to 82 NGOs.

It is alleged that the pork barrel funds were released to dubious NGOs that delivered nothing to the supposed beneficiaries of livelihood projects.

Sandoval was charged for the alleged misuse of PDAF amounting to P30 million coursed through Dr. Rodolfo A. Ignacio, Sr. Foundation, Inc. (DRAISFI) and Pangkabuhayan Foundation, which both received P5 million each; and Jacinto Castel Borja Foundation (JCBFI) which received P20 million. The PDAF released through the (Technology Resource Center) TRC.
 
Clarete's PDAF amounted to P65 million from 2007 to 2009. It was released to TRC, National Livelihood Development Corporation (NLDC), and National Agribusiness Corporation (NABCOR). Kabuhayan at Kalusugang Alay sa Masa Foundation, Inc. (KKAMFI), Kasangga sa Magandang Buhay Foundation, Inc. (KMBFI), and Aaron Foundation Philippines, Inc. (AFPI) were the NGO partners.
 
Miranda allocated his PDAF to Aksyon Makamasa Foundation, Inc. (AMFI), an NGO which he is founding chairman. He received P21 million released through two Special Allotment Release Orders (SAROs) coursed through the TRC and AMFI. 
 
Coquilla received P5 million as PDAF to procure assorted instructional materials, calamansi, rambutan, chico, and mango seedlings for the municipalities of Dolores, Maslog, Jipapad, Lawa-an and Guian in Easter Samar. Gabaymasa Foundation as project implementer and NABCOR as the implementing agency.  
 
Antonino requested that his PDAF of P15 million worth of livelihood projects be coursed through the DA and endorsed Buhay Mo Mahal Ko Foundation, Inc. (BMMKFI) as project implementer. 
 
Lim initiated the release of his P30 million PDAF through the TRC as IA and endorsed the KMFI as project implementor for livelihood projects. —NB, GMA News

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