Ombudsman OKs criminal raps vs ex-DBP officials

MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman has affirmed its decision to file criminal cases against former officials of the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) before the Sandiganbayan for allegedly granting P660 million in behest loans to a private firm three years ago.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales also found probable cause to indict former trade minister Roberto Ongpin of Delta Ventures Resources, Inc. (DVRI) and other officials of the company.

The anti-graft agency ordered the filing of graft charges against 23 DBP officials led by its former chair Patricia Sto. Tomas in September 2012 but the case was not forwarded to the Sandiganbayan pending the resolution of the motions for reconsideration filed by the respondents.

Court records showed that the charges stemmed from a complaint filed in August 2011 by the DBP, through its current chairman Jose Nuñez and its president and chief executive officer Francisco del Rosario Jr.

The respondents were accused of violating the anti-graft law and other banking regulations for their roles in the grant of behest loans used in the purchase of DBP-owned shares in Philex Mining Corp. in 2009.