Ombudsman bars Revilla, alleged PDAF scam operators from government service

February 17, 2017

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales has ordered the dismissal from the service of 13 respondents in the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam after they were found guilty of grave misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service and dishonesty.

In a statement by the Office of the Ombudsman on Friday, ordered dismissed were Director III Richard Cambe, Dennis Cunanan (director general, Technology Resource Center), Marivic Jover (chief accountant, TRC), Consuelo Lilian Espiritu (budget officer, TRC), Gondelina Amata (president, National Livelihood Development Corporation), Gregoria Buenaventura (NLDC), Emmanuel Alexis Sevidal (Director IV, NLDC), Sofia Cruz (Project Development Officer IV, NLDC), Chita Jalandoni (Director IV, NLDC), Ofelia Ordoñez (chief budget specialist, NLDC), Evelyn Sucgang (NLDC), Victor Roman Cacal (General Services Supervisor, National Agribusiness Corp.), and Rhodora Mendoza (Administrative and Finance Head, NABCOR).

The dismissal order carries the accessory penalties of perpetual disqualification from holding public office and forfeiture of all retirement benefits. In the event of separation from the service, the penalty is convertible to a fine equivalent to respondent’s salary for one year.

Cambe, et. al. are also being tried before the Sandiganbayan for their involvement in the anomalous utilization of the 2006 to 2010 PDAF of former Senator Ramon Revilla.

Investigation found that from 2006 to 2010, Revilla, as Senator, continuously endorsed the implementation of his PDAF-funded livelihood and agricultural production projects in different parts of the country to questionable Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) associated with or controlled by Janet Lim Napoles.

From 2007 to 2009, a total of P517,000,000.00 was released by the Department of Budget and Management as part of Revilla’s PDAF. After the fund release, Revilla identified the NABCOR, NLDC and TRC as implementing agencies. To facilitate the scam, Revilla authorized Cambe, a high-ranking staff member, “to act for him, deal with, and sign documents necessary for the immediate and timely implementation of the PDAF-funded projects.” Several memoranda of agreement were signed by Cambe, representing the office of Senator Revilla.

The P517M fund was allegedly used to buy livelihood materials, farm implements, starter kits, manuals, power sprayers, agricultural production kits, knapsacks, liquid fertilizers, gardening tools, soil, conditioner, gloves, ponchos, shovels, pick mattocks, seeds, trainings and agricultural chemicals. DMS