Anti-graft court issues hold departure order to Misuari over P115.2 million graft case

June 6, 2017

The Sandiganbayan Third Division has issued a hold departure order (HDO) against former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Gov. Nur Misuari in connection with his six criminal charges that stemmed from alleged fraudulent procurement contracts totaling P115.22 million. The ruling was signed by division chairperson Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje Tang, and members Associate Justices Sarah Jane Fernandez and Bernelito Fernandez which was sent to the Bureau of Immigration (BI). The Office of the Ombudsman charged Misuari for three counts of graft and three counts of malversation of public funds thru falsification of documents. Due to the big amount of public funds involved, the prosecution recommended the arrest of Misuari without bail for the three malversation cases. In graft cases, Misuari asked the anti-graft court to set bail bonds amounting to P30,000 for each of the graft charges filed against him. The court also issued hold departure orders against his co-accused, namely Director Leovegilda Cinches, chief accountant Pangalian Maniri, supply officer Sittie Aisa Usman – all of the Department of Education (DepEd)-ARMM who are facing all six charges. The hold departure orders covered DepEd-ARMM accountant Alladin Usi for two counts each of both offenses while ARMM resident auditor Nader Macagaan, and Cristeta Ramirez of CPR Publishing and Lolita Sambeli of White Orchid Printing and Publishing House for being co-accused in one count each of the same charges. Ombudsman Prosecutor Modesto Onia Jr. and assistant special prosecutor Jorge Espinal disclosed that the procurement contracts were divided into three separate transactions, the first dated December 21, 2000  involving P31 million worth of “information technology package”; another dated July 24, 2001 for P46.26 million worth of “multi-media information technology package”; and the last one dated September 2001 worth P37.96 million worth of “educational materials”. The prosecution also said all three purchase orders were allegedly fictitious as investigators found no evidence actual deliveries happened. DMS