Ex-Misamis lawmaker, DA chief face ‘pork’ raps

MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the filing of graft charges against former Misamis Occidental congresswoman Marina Clarete in connection with the pork barrel fund scam.

Former agriculture secretary Arthur Yap and 30 other persons were included in the charge sheet.

Clarete would be indicted for 18 counts of violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, 11 counts of malversation through falsification of public documents and seven counts of malversation of public funds, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales said yesterday.

Graft probers said the Department of Budget and Management released P65 million as part of Clarete’s Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel from 2007 to 2009.

Clarete endorsed the National Agribusiness Corp., National Livelihood Development Corp. and Technology Resource Center as implementing agencies, with the Kabuhayan at Kalusugang Alay sa Masa Foundation Inc., Kasangga sa Magandang Bukas Foundation Inc. and Aaron Foundation Philippines Inc. as non-government organization partners.

She claimed the money was used to fund the distribution of livelihood technology kits, water pumps, hand tractors, as well as calamansi, rambutan and mango seedlings and provide training to farmers. 

However, the supposed beneficiaries denied receiving any of the items. 

The anti-graft court said the respondents submitted fabricated documents, including certificates of acceptance, auditor and inspection reports, summaries of training expenses, purchase orders and list of beneficiaries and participants.          

In her defense, Clarete claimed her signatures on the documents were forged, adding that the Commission on Audit (COA) has not issued any notice of disallowance.

Morales said the ombudsman would pursue the probe even without COA’s decision.

“Based on the evidence presented, the widespread misuse of the PDAF allocated to Clarete was coursed through a complex scheme basically involving projects supposedly funded by the PDAF but which turned out to be inexistent,” the anti-graft court ruling stated.