MANILA – The Sandiganbayan has cleared a former congressman for the lone district of Agusan del Sur on charges for malversation, direct bribery and corruption for alleged anomalies in the use of Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) for agricultural and livelihood projects in 2008.
In a 234-page decision dated Feb. 5, 2025, the anti-graft court acquitted Rodoflo Plaza in the charges arising from projects with aggregate cost of PHP27.5 million awarded to two firms, the Masaganang Ani Para sa Magsasaka Foundation Inc. (MAMFI) and the Social Development Program for Farmers Foundation Inc. (SDFPPI), that were designated as project partners and which were apparently run by alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles.
“There is no unilateral endorsement to speak of and there is no proof of actual commissions, kickbacks and rebates to validate the contention of the prosecution that Plaza committed direct bribery. Despite efforts, the prosecution failed to prove that the deposits in Plaza’s bank account were sourced from his PDAF allocations or were made as bribes in consideration of the alleged pilfering of said public funds. Thus, for failure of the prosecution to prove the charges against him beyond reasonable doubt Plaza’s acquittal is warranted,’ the court said.
Aside from Plaza and Napoles, likewise acquitted were Jasper Kapunan, Plaza’s then chief of staff, former Department of Budget and Management (DBM)) undersecretary for operations Mario Relampagos and his staff Rosario Nuñez, Lalaine Paule, Marilou Bare, among others.
Charges against former National Livelihood Development Corporation (NLDC) director Emmanuel Savidal, private individual Eulogio Rodriguez, and National Agribusiness Corp. (Nabcor) General Services Unit Head Romulo Relevo were earlier dismissed on account of their deaths during the pendency of the charges.
Meanwhile, the court said charges against National Agribusiness Corp. (Nabcor) president Alan Javellana, chief Accountant Ma. Julie Villaralvo-Johnson and John Raymund de Asis, who remain at large, are to be revived upon their arrest or voluntary surrender.
Alias warrants of arrest were issued against them.| Benjamin Pulga / PNA
