PCGG chief still to account for P10-M cash advance - report
BY AIE BALAGTAS SEE, GMANews.TV
11/03/2008 | 10:39 PM
MANILA, Philippines - Embattled Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) chairman Camilo Sabio is facing another case aside from the disbarment case which is still pending before the Bar Confidante of the Supreme Court.
In a report by GMANews’ 24 Oras' Kara David, it was learned that Sabio is facing another charge in connection with an unliquidated cash advance amounting to almost P10 million.
Earlier reports said that in 2006, the money was supposed to be remitted to the National Treasury for the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).
Instead, it was allegedly diverted to Sabio’s personal funds.
"What I learned this P10 million was taken from the funds of IRC (Mid-Pasig Land), which is an independent realty corporation. (Mid-Pasig Land is) one of the surrendered assets in favor the government," PCGG acting chair Narciso Nario said Monday.
Nario, however, distanced himself from the issue, saying he would leave the investigation in the hands of the Commission on Audit (COA).
For his part, Sabio maintained that there was no truth in the accusations. Nonetheless, he will face the investigation in order to disprove the allegations, he said.
In a statement, Sabio issued last February, he branded the charges as "baseless and ridiculous."
“Regarding the charge against me, now pending in the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) -- for allegedly diverting P10 million dividends due to the government for a sequestered company, the IRC, to my personal account --- let me just reiterate what I said during my press conference on 16 October 2007: To those who know the pertinent facts and the law, the charge is not only baseless but absurd and ridiculous," Sabio said.
Reassumes his post
Meanwhile, despite all the controversy, Sabio last Friday reassumed his post as chair of the PCGG.
Upon his return, Sabio said there’s no need for people to speculate since he was not sacked and, because of this, he could reassume his post anytime he pleases.
"Mukhang meron konting problema dito kung sino ba talaga ang chief dito sa office ngayon … I'm co-terminus with her (President Arroyo) and I would go out this office with her," Sabio said.
Sabio explained that he has informed the Palace and the Department of Justice (DOJ) through a letter last October 31, about his decision to reassume office.
He further said that he also informed Nario that he would go back to office.
"When I was here tinawagan ako niya (Nario) ... tinanong niya andito na daw ba ako then sabi ko ‘yes,’ then sabi niya ‘welcome,’" said Sabio.
But Nario, who was appointed by the President as PCGG OIC, said Sabio has no orders from the President to return to his post. He added that he was never informed.
"Bakit hindi man lang ako tinawagan at nag usap kami he's assuming na pala," said Nario.
Nario, however, clarified that he is ready to step down and hand over to Sabio the chairmanship now that he is back.
Sabio files “voluntary" leave of absence
Sabio filed for an indefinite leave on Sept. 29 after the Supreme Court panel learned that he tried to influence his brother, Court of Appeals Associate Justice Jose Sabio Jr, to rule in the Government Service Insurance System's (GSIS) favor in a legal dispute over the management of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco).
An earlier Malacañang statement stated that Sabio’s decision to go on leave was “voluntary."
It added that the move was made "to allow the smooth investigation by the Bar Confidante of the Supreme Court of his alleged attempt to influence the CA decision on the Meralco-GSIS case."
The Bar Confidant has not yet to decide his case.
DOJ to check the validity of his return
Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, for his part, said the DOJ will study the appropriateness of Sabio's move to re-assume his post, following his involvement in the bribery scandal that rocked the Court of Appeals.
Gonzalez added that he would discuss the matter with his undersecretary Ernesto Pineda, who headed the panel that investigated the CA bribery mess over the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco)-Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) case.
With this, Gonzalez advised Sabio to extend his leave for another 30 days or until the Supreme Court has ruled on his disbarment case.
“It is on this note that I ask you to give at least 30 days for this investigation to be concluded before re-assuming the chairmanship of PCGG," Gonzalez said in a two-page letter addressed to Sabio-- a copy of which was furnished to President Arroyo.
He also pointed out that even during the investigations conducted by the high court, there were already demands for Sabio’s resignation.
“To me, the situation hinges on the issue of investigation. In other words, what was the reason why he went on leave? People were already demanding for his resignation," he said.
Gonzalez however maintained that Sabio is still enjoying the complete trust and confidence of President Arroyo.
“If the President has lost her confidence in him, she would have already taken the cue from the Supreme Court when it ordered that Sabio be investigated," he said.
The DOJ has been tasked to take direct supervision over the PCGG since last year but the power to appoint its commissioners and chairmen remains with the President. - Aie Balagtas See, GMANews.TV
In a report by GMANews’ 24 Oras' Kara David, it was learned that Sabio is facing another charge in connection with an unliquidated cash advance amounting to almost P10 million.
Earlier reports said that in 2006, the money was supposed to be remitted to the National Treasury for the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).
Instead, it was allegedly diverted to Sabio’s personal funds.
"What I learned this P10 million was taken from the funds of IRC (Mid-Pasig Land), which is an independent realty corporation. (Mid-Pasig Land is) one of the surrendered assets in favor the government," PCGG acting chair Narciso Nario said Monday.
Nario, however, distanced himself from the issue, saying he would leave the investigation in the hands of the Commission on Audit (COA).
For his part, Sabio maintained that there was no truth in the accusations. Nonetheless, he will face the investigation in order to disprove the allegations, he said.
In a statement, Sabio issued last February, he branded the charges as "baseless and ridiculous."
“Regarding the charge against me, now pending in the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) -- for allegedly diverting P10 million dividends due to the government for a sequestered company, the IRC, to my personal account --- let me just reiterate what I said during my press conference on 16 October 2007: To those who know the pertinent facts and the law, the charge is not only baseless but absurd and ridiculous," Sabio said.
Reassumes his post
Meanwhile, despite all the controversy, Sabio last Friday reassumed his post as chair of the PCGG.
Upon his return, Sabio said there’s no need for people to speculate since he was not sacked and, because of this, he could reassume his post anytime he pleases.
"Mukhang meron konting problema dito kung sino ba talaga ang chief dito sa office ngayon … I'm co-terminus with her (President Arroyo) and I would go out this office with her," Sabio said.
Sabio explained that he has informed the Palace and the Department of Justice (DOJ) through a letter last October 31, about his decision to reassume office.
He further said that he also informed Nario that he would go back to office.
"When I was here tinawagan ako niya (Nario) ... tinanong niya andito na daw ba ako then sabi ko ‘yes,’ then sabi niya ‘welcome,’" said Sabio.
But Nario, who was appointed by the President as PCGG OIC, said Sabio has no orders from the President to return to his post. He added that he was never informed.
"Bakit hindi man lang ako tinawagan at nag usap kami he's assuming na pala," said Nario.
Nario, however, clarified that he is ready to step down and hand over to Sabio the chairmanship now that he is back.
Sabio files “voluntary" leave of absence
Sabio filed for an indefinite leave on Sept. 29 after the Supreme Court panel learned that he tried to influence his brother, Court of Appeals Associate Justice Jose Sabio Jr, to rule in the Government Service Insurance System's (GSIS) favor in a legal dispute over the management of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco).
An earlier Malacañang statement stated that Sabio’s decision to go on leave was “voluntary."
It added that the move was made "to allow the smooth investigation by the Bar Confidante of the Supreme Court of his alleged attempt to influence the CA decision on the Meralco-GSIS case."
The Bar Confidant has not yet to decide his case.
DOJ to check the validity of his return
Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, for his part, said the DOJ will study the appropriateness of Sabio's move to re-assume his post, following his involvement in the bribery scandal that rocked the Court of Appeals.
Gonzalez added that he would discuss the matter with his undersecretary Ernesto Pineda, who headed the panel that investigated the CA bribery mess over the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco)-Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) case.
With this, Gonzalez advised Sabio to extend his leave for another 30 days or until the Supreme Court has ruled on his disbarment case.
“It is on this note that I ask you to give at least 30 days for this investigation to be concluded before re-assuming the chairmanship of PCGG," Gonzalez said in a two-page letter addressed to Sabio-- a copy of which was furnished to President Arroyo.
He also pointed out that even during the investigations conducted by the high court, there were already demands for Sabio’s resignation.
“To me, the situation hinges on the issue of investigation. In other words, what was the reason why he went on leave? People were already demanding for his resignation," he said.
Gonzalez however maintained that Sabio is still enjoying the complete trust and confidence of President Arroyo.
“If the President has lost her confidence in him, she would have already taken the cue from the Supreme Court when it ordered that Sabio be investigated," he said.
The DOJ has been tasked to take direct supervision over the PCGG since last year but the power to appoint its commissioners and chairmen remains with the President. - Aie Balagtas See, GMANews.TV
