(Eagle News) — The Office of the Ombudsman has indicted Janet Lim Napoles for alleged irregularities in the procurement of fertilizers in Del Carmen, Surigao del Norte in 2004.
Also charged for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and malversation of public funds were Department of Agriculture’s Assistant Regional Director Edgardo Dahino, Chief Administrative Officer Jessica Da-an, Administrative Officer Merylinda Santos, and Accountant III Gerry Leop, an Ombudsman statement posted on the anti-graft body’s website on Monday, July 23, said.
Also charged were private respondents Evelyn De Leon and Rodel Pontillas, both from the Philippine Social Development Foundation, Inc. (PSDFI).
According to the Ombudsman, Napoles was indicted “for conspiring with public respondents for ordering the reactivation of the PSDFI and entering into the transaction with the (DA Regional Field Unit in Butuan) Caraga and the municipality using PSDFI as conduit for the project by allowing the issuance of fake official receipts to make it appear that the PSDFI received the public funds..”
It said she also did this with them by “issuing a report of disbursement using her employee, respondent de Leon, to make it appear that the PSDFI used the P5 million in the acquisition of fertilizers, and by purchasing fake liquid fertilizers for P100.00 per 300ml/bottle and selling them to DA RFU Caraga at P800.00 per 300ml/bottle.”
“Records also show that no fertilizers were distributed in the municipality based on certifications issued by the municipality’s agriculturist,” the Ombudsman said.
The anti-graft body also held to task the DA officials for “releas(ing) the entire fund to PSDFI, as NGO-implementor, without complying with Commission on Audit Circular No. 96-003 which requires funds to be released in three tranches.”
Napoles is facing separate charges in connection with the pork barrel scam.