OMB investigates PCSO fund scam; orders the filing of charges against former Rep. Clavel Martinez and former Mayor Celestino Martines
08 July 2011, source: Ombudsman Website
The Office of the Ombudsman has started looking into the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Fund Scam.
Acting Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro has created a special panel tasked to conduct fact-finding investigation into allegations that the PCSO misused its intelligence funds.
Acting Ombudsman Casimiro said the inquiry will focus on the manner by which PCSO funds were disbursed.
The Order was issued following revelations made during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the disbursements said funds.
At the same time, the Acting Ombudsman has ordered the conduct of a fact-finding investigation on the complaint filed by two advertising agencies against PCSO Public Relations and Publicity Department Manager Manuel Garcia.
Garcia was accused of demanding a total of nearly P29M in exchange for the payment of advertising placements and commercial sports of the charitable agency.
Meanwhile, Acting Ombudsman Casimiro has approved the recommendation charging former Cebu Rep. Clavel Asas Martinez, former Bogo, Cebu Mayor Celestino A. Martinez III and four other officials of Malversation before the Sandiganbayan.
Also included in the indictment were Municipal Treasurer Rhett E. Minguez, Municipal Accountant Cresencio P. Verdida, Bookkeeper Rhodariza V. Kilantang, GSP Cebu Council Cashier Julieta G. Quino and former GSP Treasurer Maria Cielo A. Martinez.
The said officials were likewise charged with violating Section 3 (e) of RA 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act).
The charges stem from the complaint filed by the Office of the Ombudsman’s Field Investigation Office (OMB-FIO) alleging that from September to October 2003, the respondents conspired in misappropriating the amount of P10,000,000 for the personal use and benefit of Congresswoman Martinez. The said amount was taken from the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) for 2003 intended for donation to the GSP Cebu City. The said amount was deposited to the personal account of Clavel Martinez with the BPI.
The Ombudsman was able to establish that a total of P11.5 million PDAF was released thru a check with the GSP/Treasurer as payee of the 17 September 2003 Land Bank check. Later, accused Quino applied for a Manager’s check in the same amount at LBP Bogo, Cebu. In the said application, the payee for the manager’s check shall be GSP or Ma. Cielo A. Martinez.
On 20 October 2003, the amount of P11.5M was deposited at the BPI account of GSP. On 27 October 2003, the amount was withdrawn by Ma. Cielo and was deposited to the BPI account of Clavel Martinez. However, it was established that out of the said amount, P1.5M was erroneously released as part of the PDAF of Martinez, when it was actually a fund for the Bayan Muna Party List. Hence, the same was returned by GSP to the Municipality of Bogo. The municipality then remitted the P1.5M to the proper government coffers. Thus, only P10M remain unaccounted for.
The resolution also emphasized that the said transaction is the same subject matter that was disallowed by the Commission on Audit. Although respondent raised the defense that the amount of P10M was returned to government coffers in 2005, or two years later, it still does not discount the fact that public funds were embezzled and appropriated for personal use.
Congresswoman Martinez was the President of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines Cebu City from 1995-2003.
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