Ex-Ifugao gov cleared of graft

The Office of the Ombudsman has dismissed the graft and extortion complaint against former Ifugao Gov. Ildefonso Dulinayan, ruling that there was "lack of probable cause to hold him criminally liable."

The case stemmed from a complaint filed by Alice Magno, a contractor of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) office in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya.

Magno alleged that Dulinayan demanded P60,000 before he would sign the voucher and check for partial payment for work on the provincial youth center.

The money was to be given to Sangguniang Kabataan chairman Ivan Baguilat. An NBI entrapment was staged on June 28 last year.

Dulinayan had denied the charges.

The justice department initially found no sufficient evidence for his immediate indictment and detention and transmitted the case to the Ombudsman.

But the Ombudsman noted that only Baguilat was caught receiving the money from Magno and tested positive for yellow flourescent smudges on both hands.

Dulinayan, it said, only appeared after learning about the commotion. Besides, he approved the voucher on June 26, the day before she went to the NBI.