Ex-envoy gets 17 years for malversation

MANILA, Philippines - The Sandiganbayan sentenced a former ambassador to Nigeria to serve a maximum of 17 years in prison yesterday for misusing $95,856 (approximately P4 million) meant for the repatriation of kidnapped overseas workers in 2007.

Masaranga Umpa was indicted by the Office of the Ombudsman in 2011 for malversation of public funds.

Umpa, an appointee of former President Joseph Estrada who served until the Arroyo administration, was charged on orders of then overall deputy ombudsman Orlando Casimiro.

The Department of Foreign Affairs discovered that of the $174,000 sent to Umpa’s office on Feb. 7, 2007 for the safe release and repatriation of 24 Filipino crewmembers of Baco Liner II and one other OFW, $95,856.08 was misspent.

Investigators found that the money was used for non-existent transactions, as evidenced by fabricated documents such as bogus hotel and food receipts.