Ombudsman probes Honasan, 3 others on pork barrel

Kristine Dela Cruz via RH News

Manila, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman is investigating Senator Gregorio ‘Gringo’ Honasan, including  three other former government officials due to possible involvement in the PhP220 million fund scam in the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

Graft case and Malversation of public funds, through a falsification of public documents will be filed against the accused.

Aside from Honasan, other respondents are former Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, former Rep. Arturo Robes and former Sec. Virgilio de los Reyes of DAR.

Other five officials from DAR and Department of Budget and Management (DBM) are also being probed.

It was discovered that since 2010 until 2011, DAR allocated PhP220 million for livelihood and training projects for farmers in 27 towns in Isabela, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Ilocos Norte, Nueva Ecija, Quezon, Batangas and Pangasinan.

From the mentioned amount, PhP20 million was released from DAR’s regular fund based on the request of Honasan.

However, the implementation of the program was availed by the fake non-government organizations (NGOs) of Janel Lim Napoles, including the same fund request of other respondents.