SUMMARY
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MANILA, Philippines – A panel of investigators from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) recommended the filing of administrative charges against a senior government prosecutor and an executive assistant working at the central office of the Office of the Ombudsman.
The two were suspected of leaking copies of a confidential resolution in relation to a plunder case against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
The NBI panel recommended the filing of administrative charges against Deputy Special Prosecutor Cornelio L. Somido for grave misconduct, and executive assistant II Joshua T. Jabrica for neglect of duty.
The panel consisted of agents Catherine Camposano, Christopher Paz, and Cesar Reyes, led by head agent Leopoldo Andrada.
The 30-page report was submitted to the Sandiganbayan 1st Division by prosecutors handling the Arroyo plunder case in relation to alleged unlawful disbursement of intelligence funds of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). The illegally disbursed funds amounted to P366 million.
Morales’ request
The investigation was prompted by a request of Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales on January 18, 2013, addressed to the justice department and the NBI. She wanted to know how copies of the confidential resolution ended up with ex-PCSO general manager Rosario Uriarte and her lawyers.
They questioned the basis of the plunder case against Arroyo and used copies of a resolution which was filed with the Sandiganbayan. A 54-page draft resolution known as the “Somido Report” was submitted to Morales on January 16, 2012. This was followed by a revised 56-page draft submitted on March 2 of the same year. It recommended the filing only of graft charges – and not plunder – against Arroyo and PCSO officials.
The Ombudsman said the two versions of the resolution submitted by PCSO’s Uriarte were supposed to be confidential since they were not final and instead still subject of review.
In an affidavit submitted to the NBI, Assistant Ombudsman Weomark Ryan J. Layson said he was identified as being the one pushing for plunder by a fraternity brother who called asking about the PCSO case.
Lawyer Christian Diaz, whose law firm previously represented Arroyo in the plunder case (they withdrew from the case in January 2014), was identified as the one who called Layson, who had been tasked by Morales to review the draft resolution prepared by Somido.
It was Layson who recommended plunder and technical malversation instead of graft charges against Arroyo and the PCSO officials.
No action was recommended against Diaz. – Rappler.com
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