Graft case vs former lawmaker revived

The Ombudsman has revived the graft case it filed against former Surigao del Norte Rep. Constantino Navarro for allegedly misappropriating P11.8 million of his pork barrel and overpricing by at least P4.3 million many of his projects in his district from 1997 to 1998.

The Ombudsman’s prosecuting arm, the Office of the Special Prosecutor, said Navarro has failed to account for releases from his Countrywide Development Fund (CDF) despite repeated demands.

In an 11-page re-solution, Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo ruled that all the elements required for a graft complaint to prosper have been complied with.

"This failure and refusal to account for the items or the inability to properly disclose where and in what quantities the items were distributed, among others, show evident bad faith, manifest partiality or gross inexcusable negligence, at the very least," he said.

Prosecutors said Navarro entered into contracts with private firms allegedly without the benefit of public biddings and allegedly overpriced shabu testing kits, rice paddy plows, assorted medicines, notebooks, ballpens and blackboard erasers. — Delon Porcalla