MANILA, Philippines (Eagle News) — Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales has ordered the dismissal from public service of Senator Joel Villanueva for his administrative liability over the allegedly anomalous use of 10 million pesos from his pork barrel allocation as a House member.
Villanueva’s dismissal stemmed from his indictment for malversation, graft and falsification of public documents over the allegedly anomalous disbursement of his 10 million-peso Priority Development Assistance Fund or PDAF during his stint as Citizens Battle against Corruption or CIBAC party-list representative.
According to the Ombudsman, the budget department on June 10, 2008, released Villanueva’s 10-million-peso PDAF to a bogus NGO to implement agri-based livelihood projects in Region 11.
However, no name in the supposed list of beneficiaries was a registered voter or a resident of the province.
In a statement earlier today, the Ombudsman said Villanueva was found guilty of grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, and conduct prejudicial to the interest of the service.
It has ordered Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III to implement the dismissal order against Villanueva.
