Published December 25, 2020, 2:04 PM
The Sandiganbayan Second Division has acquitted former Bacolod City Rep. Monico Puentevella and two others of their graft charge involving the reportedly anomalous use of the lawmaker’s Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) from 2002 to 2005.
Puentevella was accused of violating Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act together with Department of Education (DepEd) Region 6 Director Victoriano B. Tirol Jr. for conspiring with Merryland Publishing Corp. President Jessie D. Garcia on the procurement of Information Technology packages at P40,000 each for a total of P26 million.
According to prosecutors, this was a violation of Executive Order No. 40, Series of 2001, and RA 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act.
Published December 24, 2020, 4:34 PM
The Court of Appeals (CA) has affirmed its decision that ordered the dismissal from the service of three former senior officials of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for their involvement in the illegal release of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of two former Caloocan City legislators.
Affirmed in a resolution written by Associate Justice Myra Garcia Fernandez was the CA’s decision that upheld the dismissal order issued by the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) against Mateo Montano, Vilma Cabrera and Pacita Sarino.
At the time of their dismissal, Montano was a DSWD undersecretary, Cabrera was assistant secretary, and Sarino was assistant director.