Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The Ombudsman ordered the filing of graft and fund malversation charges Wednesday against former Nueva Ecija 3rd District Rep. Aurelio Umali for mishandling his pork barrel or Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) amounting to ₱15 million in 2005.
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales also ordered the filing of similar charges against businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles, former Department of Agriculture regional executive director Renato Manantan and accountant Narcisa Maningding. Also indicted were Anita Tansipek and Corazon Bautista, both from the Samahan ng mga Manininda ng Prutas sa Gabi, Inc.
The Ombudsman said the respondents made it appear that the funds were used to purchase 7,920 bottles of liquid fertilizers and 15 irrigation pumps, but it was found there was “no real purchase.” It said the fertilizers had been sourced from another Napoles-owned company, Nutrigrowth Philippines.
The Ombudsman said recipient Napoles-owned nongovernment organizations lacked credentials and track record to implement multi-million peso projects; there was no market survey and identification of product standards for agricultural implements; no public bidding; undated and unnumbered disbursement vouchers were used; and irrigation pumps were never turned over to the beneficiaries.
The supposed beneficiaries were Umali’s constituents in Laur, Gabaldon, Bongabon, Santa Rosa, General Natividad, and Cabanatuan City in Nueva Ecija.
The Ombudsman perpetually disqualified Umali and Manantan from holding public office — and forfeited their retirement benefits.
In 2016, the Ombudsman filed at least 16 cases in relation to the PDAF scam, of which eight were against Napoles.
