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[av_heading heading=’Malampaya scam: Raps filed vs Napoles, 24 others ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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MANILA – The Office of the Ombudsman filed charges yesterday against Janet Lim-Napoles and 24 others before the Sandiganbayan in connection with the P900-million Malampaya fund scam.
Also facing malversation through falsification and violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act charges are former Budget secretary Rolando Andaya Jr. and former Agrarian Reform secretary Nasser Pangandaman.
The Ombudsman has recommended the bail of P30,000 for each count of graft and P200,000 for each count of malversation through falsification, or a total of P22.31 million for each of the respondents.
According to the Ombudsman, the respondents were accused of diverting the Malampaya gas field royalties to nongovernment organizations allegedly ran by Napoles.
Relatives of Napoles and other employees allegedly forged the request letters of the mayors of 97 towns and cities in Luzon, only for the funds to be diverted to “ghost” livelihood projects.
Pangandaman was charged for directing then Agrarian Reform undersecretary Narciso Nieto to request P900 million in discretionary funds, while Andaya was accused of approving the request even without clear basis.
The Malampaya fund was supposed to aid victims of widespread flooding in Luzon in 2009.
Andaya, a Cabinet member under former president and now Pampanga representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, believes the charges against him will be dismissed.
“The downgrading of my cases from plunder means that the original indictment actively sought has been debunked,” said Andaya. “I am confident that, at the end, truth will prevail and I shall be acquitted of the charges against me.”/PN
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