THE TRUTH and Justice Coalition on Monday charged, before the Office of the Ombudsman, former president Benigno S. C. Aquino III and others with malversation, in connection with the alleged use of public funds to influence the impeachment of former Chief Justice Renato C. Corona.

The group’s president Greco Antonious B. Belgica said they filed “274 counts of malversation, no bail per count dahil sa pagkakalustay ng pera ng taong bayan para i-impeach ang dating Chief Justice Renato Corona (for spending public funds to impeach former Chief Justice Renato Corona).”

“Of course, sinasabi nila rito (they’re saying) this was used for public purpose; it was not. It was used for influencing the legislators to vote against, to vote for the impeachment of Chief Justice Renato Corona,” added Mr. Belgica, who is also commissioner of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC).

He noted the case is in connection with P17 billion of the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) fund.

Also facing malversation complaints are former budget secretary Florencio B. Abad, former transportation secretary Joseph Emilio A. Abaya, former senator and interior secretary Manuel A. Roxas II, Senators Franklin M. Drilon and Antonio F. Trillanes IV, former budget undersecretary Mario L. Relampogos, director Yolanda D. Doblon, and other John Does.

He cited among the evidence they had gathered alleged ghost projects of Mr. Trillanes and “confessions” by former senators Jose E. Estrada and Ramon R. Revilla, Jr. among others.

“Ito po ay mga pinagbubulsa nilang pera, nakakuha tayo ng mga ebidensya sa mga ghost project ni Trillanes, mga confession nila former senator Jinggoy Estrada, Revilla, the dates kung kelan it was released, cash allocations, lahat po ‘yan official evidences,” Mr. Belgica said. (They pocketed the money, we gathered evidence on the ghost projects of Trillanes, confessions of former senator[s] Jinggoy Estrada, Revilla, the dates when the money was released, cash allocations, which are all official evidences.)

He also argued the complaints should not be taken as political persecution against the previous administration.

“Ngayon po for issues na tinitira natin sila politically or namimili, wala pong katotohanan ‘yon dahil tayo evidence-based lang,” Mr. Belgica said. (Now, for those saying we’re attacking them politically, there’s no truth to that, because we are working based on evidence.) — Charmaine A. Tadalan









