Bukidnon solon faces P10.5-M graft raps

A Bukidnon lawmaker was charged with graft at the Office of the Ombudsman yesterday after he allegedly diverted a total of P10.5 million of his pork barrel funds to private entities allegedly owned by his parents and close relatives.

Rep. Nereus Acosta of Bukidnon’s first district was charged with graft and violation of the Code of Conduct among Government Officials, along with his mother Socorro, mayor of Manolo Fortich town, his father Juan and his aunt Nemia Bornidor.

The Bukidnon Crusade Against Graft and Corruption, whose members include priests Venancio Balansag and Wilfredo Torayno and Felix Vergara Jr. and Vicente Abroguena, submitted the complaint to the Ombudsman with details of the alleged irregularities.

In the nine-page complaint, the group said there were three instances where Acosta could be held criminally liable — the release of P2.5 million in Jan. 2001, P2.5 million in August of the same year and P5.5 million in July 2002.

The first involved the agreement between Acosta and Talakag town Mayor Amado Noble for the acquisition of a Solar Tunnel Dryer, which was supposed to be intended for agricultural services but was later diverted to a private entity and transferred to Manolo Fortich town.

The complainants said Acosta "took possession" of the equipment and transferred it to the Bukidnon Integrated Network of Home Industries Inc. (Binhi), a company incorporated by his relatives.

The second incident involved the release of P2.5 million by Noble to Binhi, which was reportedly sourced from Acosta’s Priority Development Assistance Fund (pork barrel), to which the congressman allegedly said "the Talakag town will only serve as conduit in favor of the private firm."