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BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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Saturday, January 28, 2017
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MANILA – Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo posted bail yesterday for the graft charge he was facing at the Sandiganbayan.
Degamo was accused of misusing P460 million in calamity funds.
“I am categorically denying that I unlawfully used calamity funds,” he told Panay News. “I believe the cases filed against me were politically motivated.”
Degamo came to the Sandiganbayan Third Division yesterday to request that his bail bond be commuted to P1.115 million from the original P2.23 million.
On Wednesday the Sandiganbayan division issued a warrant of arrest against Degamo, Provincial Engineer Franco Alpuerto, Provincial Treasurer Danilo Mendez and Provincial Accountant Teodorico Reyes.
Before that, the Office of Ombudsman ordered the filing of charges against the respondents after finding them liable for the misuse use of funds for the repair, rehabilitation and construction of structures damaged by natural calamities.
Degamo has 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.
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.
Despite the DBM notice, Degamo and his co-accused pushed through with the 11 projects, spending P143.2 million, or 15 percent of the advance payment./PN
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