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BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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Saturday, January 7, 2017
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MANILA – The Office of Ombudsman yesterday ordered the filing of charges against Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo over the alleged illegal disbursement of P480 million in calamity funds.
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, in a press statement, said Degamo is facing 11 counts of graft and corruption charges before the Sandiganbayan.
“The charges stem from the illegal use of the calamity fund intended for the repair, rehabilitation and construction of structures damaged by natural calamities,” Morales said.
Aside from Degamo, Provincial Engineer Franco Alpuerto was also indicted for violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corruption Practices Act, while Treasurer Danilo Mendez and Accountant Teodorico were charged with falsifying public documents.
Panay News was still trying to reach the officials for comment. Degamo was not answering calls or replying to text messages at press time.
Degamo requested assistance for the rehabilitation of the province’s infrastructure damaged by typhoon “Sendong” in December 2011 and the 6.9 magnitude earthquake in February 2012, results of the Ombudsman’s preliminary investigation showed.
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) issued a special allotment and release order (SARO) for P961.5 million on June 5, 2012, of which P480.7 million was immediately released.
On June 19 of the same year, the DBM informed Degamo that it was withdrawing the SARO due to the province’s failure to comply with guidelines for infrastructure projects.
But despite the notice from the DBM, Degamo and his co-accused pushed through with 11 projects costing P143.2 million, or 15 percent of the advance payment, the Ombudsman said.
“If the provincial officials have reservations on the legality of the withdrawal of the positive SARO, they could have asked a higher executive authority or secured a judicial directive allowing them to retain control of the funds,” said Morales./PN
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