Ex-budget secretary Andray charged over Napoles-pork barrel scam

Camarines Sur representative Rolando Andaya Jr. FILE PHOTO

  Former budget secretary and now Camarines Sur representative Rolando Andaya Jr. and a former congressman were charged with graft and malversation over the alleged Janet Lim-Napoles pork barrel scam.
In a statement on Wednesday, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales ordered the filing of graft, malversation, and direct bribery charges against former Ilocos Sur Rep. Salacnib Baterina over the alleged misuse of his Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) in 2007.
Baterina faces three counts of malversation, three counts of violations of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and one count of direct bribery.

Andaya as former budget secretary was indicted for his issuance of the sub-allotment release orders and notice of cash allotment despite the absence of the required project profiles and endorsements from the implementing agencies in violation of the Department of Budget and Management National Budget Circular No. 476.
READ: Andaya signed 33 Saros in PDAF scam
The Ombudsman said Andaya’s release of such documents “made the funds easily accessible to the Technological Livelihood Research Center and the bogus NGOs.”
According to the Ombudsman, the DBM under Andaya released P35 million of Baterina’s PDAF for livelihood and farm input projects.
Baterina endorsed the bogus NGOs Philippine Social Development Foundation Inc. and the Kaagapay Magpakailanman Foundation Inc. as implementors, and the Technology and Livelihood Resource Center as a conduit.
Principal whistleblower Benhur Luy said that Baterina received P7.5 million in kickbacks and that it was former Pampanga Rep. and former Energy Regulatory Commissioner Zenaida Ducut who acted as an agent between Baterina and Napoles.
The Ombudsman cited the Commission on Audit report which noted lapses in the funds use, such as the lack of public bidding in the NGO selection process, absence of documents supporting the utilization and liquidation of public funds, and the lack of list of beneficiaries.