GMA, 6 execs face plunder raps over Malampaya fund

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Justice recommended the filing of plunder charges Thursday against former President Gloria Arroyo, five former cabinet officials and an incumbent budget executive for allegedly siphoning the Malampaya fund through fake non-government organizations.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said that Arroyo and former Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita issued Executive Order 848 allowing access to Malampaya proceeds from natural gas activities ahead of the letters of request to fund livelihood projects.

DOJ also sought the following to be indicted for plunder in the said P900 million scam in 2009:

• Former Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Rolando Andaya (now Camarines Sur congressman)
• Former Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) former Secretary Nasser Pangandaman
• Former DAR Undersecretary Rafael Nieto
• Former DAR finance officer Teresita Panlilio
• Department of Budget and Management Undersecretary Mario Relampagos

"The officials received kickbacks or commissions amounting to P337,775,000 [and]  were distributed to the public officials who participated in the plunder scheme," De Lima said in a press conference following the submission of documentary evidence before Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales.

De Lima said the officials who received the commissions were identified by whistleblowers led by Benhur Luy.

She added that the fund was misused through 12 NGOs linked to detained businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles and her supposed cohorts named heads of the organizations, namely:

• John Lim - Ginintuang Alay sa Magsasaka Foundation (Napoles' nephew)
• Ronald Francisco Lim, -  Micro Agri Business Citizens Initiative (Napoles' brother)
• John Raymond de Asis - Kaupdanan para sa Mangunguma Foundation
• Genevieve Uy - Kasaganahan para sa Magsasaka Foundation
• Simplicio Gumafelix of Karangyaan - Magbubukid Foundation
• Jesus Castillo - Dalangpan Sang Amon Utod Foundation
• Nova Kay Dulay - Tanglaw Para sa Magsasaka Foundation
• Gertrudes Kilapkilap, Bukirin Tanglaw Foundation (this is also Gertrudes Luy, the mother of whistleblower Benhur Luy)
• Lilian Espanol - Saganang Buhay sa Atin Foundation
• Lorna Ramires - Masaganang Buhay Foundation
• Vanessa Eman - Abundant Harvest for People’s Foundation
• Eulogio Rodriguez - Gintong Pangkabuhayan

Napoles was likewise accused for plunder for allegedly pocketing the lion's share of the funds supposedly also earmarked for calamity relief operations.

De Lima said Napoles forged signatures of municipal mayors for 97 letters of request to DAR for NGOs' non-existent projects.

Andaya, Nieto, Pangandaman and Panilio allegedly participated in the scam by authorizing the release of millions to DAR and to Napoles and her staff.