In a related development Acting Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro ordered the filing of graft charges against incumbent North Cotabato Rep. Jesus Sacdalan before the Sandiganbayan for allegedly misappropriating P18.6 million in government calamity funds in 2008.
The latest to be linked in the controversial “conversion of funds” was Northern Luzon Command chief Lt. Gen. Gaudencio Pangilinan, who is now facing plunder charges before the Department of Justice filed by retired colonel and whistle-blower George Rabusa.
Pangilinan is a classmate of AFP chief Gen. Eduardo Oban Jr. at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class ’79. He is set to retire at the age of 56 on July 25.
Another AFP general, Commo. Teddy Pan has been placed under investigation for his alleged link in the P420-million fuel scam that was reportedly consummated during the watch of former chief of staff retired Gen. Ricardo David Jr., now chief of the Bureau of Immigration.
Generals Pan and David belong to the PMA Class of ’77. Pan retires on July 17.
Pan was relieved and reassigned to The Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics pending investigation and reportedly on “floating status.”
The military hierarchy, however, is yet to disclose the preliminary results of the investigation on the fuel scam that has been dragging on for more than a couple of months.
In the 105-page amended complaint filed last week by Rabusa, he tagged Pangilinan as the alleged “bagman” of a former chief of staff who passed away more than a decade ago.
Rabusa, former budget officer under the term of retired Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia as comptroller, alleged that Pangilinan could have pocketed some P88 million.
Garcia had pocketed P333 million of military funds but entered into a plea-bargain agreement with Merceditas Gutierrez, the former Ombudsman, by returning P135.5 million only of ill-gotten wealth.
The court approved Garcia’s plea bargain that relegated his nonbailable plunder case to a mere lesser offense.
Records from the Ombudsman showed that Sacdalan, a provincial governor in 2008, approved the release of the government’s 2008 calamity fund and ordered the purchase of fuel from a Shell gasoline station in Midsayap town and Double V Petron in Kidapawan City for the rehabilitation of San Vicente-Bulcanon Road in Makilala, and Nicaan-Banisilan Road in Alamada.
An information sheet prepared by the Ombudsman said the complaint was filed by Milagros Casis, who alleged that the amount released was far and beyond what was necessary to finish the projects indicated in the 2008 “Programs of Work for Road Projects,” in the province.
Casis, a former district engineer of the province’s first district, alleged that Sacdalan abused his authority as governor when he ordered her to falsify the release of the amount. She added she was repeatedly ordered by the governor to revise the program of works covering the road project in order to hide irregularities in fuel purchases.
