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Ombudsman creates panel to investigate “pork barrel scam”
16 July 2013, Press Release Ombudsman

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales today created a Special Team of Investigators (Panel) to look into the alleged “ghost projects” reportedly funded by the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of certain members of Congress.

 Composed of six (6) graft investigators, the Panel shall conduct a parallel investigation in coordination with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). 

 Ombudsman Morales initiated a fact-finding investigation, in response to news reports about whistleblower Benhur Luy’s exposé of a “pork barrel scam” involving the use of huge amounts of PDAF by alleged “dummy” non-government organizations (NGOs) for purported “ghost projects” in a scheme supposedly hatched by Janet Lim Napoles.

             Under Republic Act (RA) No. 6770 (Ombudsman Act of 1989), the Ombudsman may, motu proprio (on its own) or even without a lodged complaint, initiate an investigation “any act or omission of any public officer or employee, office or agency, when such act or omission appears to be illegal, unjust, improper or inefficient.”

            Ombudsman records disclose that Napoles, Luy and several NGO officers have been facing complaints in the “fertilizer fund scam” cases pending in this Office.

             Records also reveal[1] that the Office has been conducting field investigation involving apparent anomalies and irregularities in the implementation of livelihood programs/projects funded by the PDAF of three (3) Senators and one (1) Representative.

            Under its charter (RA 6770, Sec. 15), the Office of the Ombudsman has primary jurisdiction over cases cognizable by the Sandiganbayan, and has the authority to file corruption-related criminal charges, if warranted upon a finding of probable cause, against high-ranking officers.

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