Former Cagayan De Oro Rep. Constantino Jaraula is facing a new set of charges before the Sandiganbayan Second Division in relation to the reportedly anomalous accreditation of a non-government organization and the release of P3 million for fertilizers without any proof of receipt.
Jaraula has been slapped with violations of Section 3(e) and (g) of R.A. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act as well as Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code, also known as malversation.
He was charged fwith violation of Section 3(e) and malversation alongside Department of Agriculture (DA) officials – Regional Technical Director Jose Quitazol Sr., Assistant Regional Directors Antonio Rosal and Eduardo Lecciones Jr. of Regional Field Unit VII, as well as Budget Officer III Ma. Regina Lumantas, Accountant III Claudia Artazo, Assistant Regional Diretor Martino Cajita, and Regional Technical Director Joel Rudinas of Regional Field Unit X.
City Agriculturist Godofredo Bajas was likewise charged together with Philippine Social Development Foundation Inc. (PSDFI) President Evelyn De Leon, Vice President Annabelle Luy, Treasurer Maria Fe Escabarte, Auditor Jose Ardias, Secretary Gertrudes Kilapkilap, members Henry Bucalin and Luzviminda Bucalin.
From December 2003 to July 2004, the accused were faulted for giving manifest partiality to PSDFI when they signed its endorsement and entered into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with it even though its documents were incomplete.
The accused reportedly received the fertilizers without any proof of receipt by the farmer beneficiaries and disbursed the P3 million despite the NGO’s failure to comply with the requirements of the Commission on Audit (COA) Circular No. 96-003.
Jaraula stands accused for violation of Section 3(g) alone for selecting PSDFI even though the NGO was “not based in the city of Cagayan de Oro where the project was to be implemented,” the charge sheet read.