(Eagle News)– The Sandiganbayan has issued a hold departure order against Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founder Nur Misuari.
The HDO stemmed from his alleged misappropriation of P115.2 million intended for the purchase of educational materials when he was governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
The anti-graft court’s Third Division said the HDO also applied to Misuari’s co-accused, former Department of Education (DepEd) ARMM director Leovigilda Cinches, chief accountant Pangalian Maniri, Sittie Aisa Usman, DepEd ARMM accountant Alladin Usi, Commissioner on Audit ARMM resident auditor Nader Macagaan, and Cristeta Ramirez, Lolita Sambeli.
Misuari was charged by the Office of the Ombudsman with three counts of violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and three counts of malversation of public funds through falsification in relation to the alleged crime.
According to prosecutors, Misuari and his co-accused misappropriated the funds by falsifying purchase orders, sales invoice, disbursement vouchers, among others, to make it look like a procurement of the educational materials had been done in 2000 and 2001.
The prosecutors argued that the supposed educational materials did not reach the intended beneficiaries.