Quezon province lawmaker, 8 others charged plunder

by Raadee Sausa November 9, 2020 Office of the Ombudsman building. ...

by Raadee Sausa
November 9, 2020

Office of the Ombudsman building.

LUCENA CITY - Rep. David Suarez of Quezon and eight others are facing plunder charges in connection with the alleged misuse of P812.73 million that the provincial government received as shares from the operations of the Pagbilao Power Plant.

In a 16-page complaint filed before the Office of the Ombudsman, Fidel Verdad Jr. said Suarez should be investigated for plunder as provided under Republic Act 7080 or the Plunder Law, and for possible violation of RA 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.



Besides Suarez, named respondents in the complaint filed in June were incumbent provincial board members Romano Talaga and Teresita Dator, and former board members Manuel Butardo, Joanna Rose Martija, Gerald Ortiz, Lourdes de Luna-Pasatiempo, Donaldo Suarez and Rachel Ubana.

Verdad, over the weekend released to journalists the copies of the complaint, said that Suarez – during his term as governor in 2011 – allegedly conspired with the provincial board to release P750 million to a non-government organization (NGO), Unlad Quezon Foundation Inc.



The amount was intended for the implementation of livelihood projects.

Verdad said the provincial board authorized Suarez to enter into an agreement with the foundation despite the NGO’s questionable qualifications.



"The NGO has never submitted any report on how the funds were used,” he said.

Records from the Securities and Exchange Commission showed the NGO ceased to operate as of December 31, 2012.

Moreover, Verdad also said in his complaint that Suarez misappropriated amounts allegedly for the payment of wages of workers recruited as beneficiaries of the Tugon Program, which amounted to P62.7 million.

Suarez reportedly sought authorization from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to disburse and implement the programs within election period. But without awaiting the approval of Comelec, Suarez went ahead and “abused his authority,” said Verdad, when he proceeded to implement the programs. The authorization was eventually denied on November 29, 2019.

“All told, the acts of plunder, first in the amount of P750 million from various departments and the provincial funds allotted for assistance to individuals in crisis situation and sustainable livelihood program embodied in the petition dated April 26, 2019 before the Commission on Elections in the amount of P62.7 million constitute plunder,” the complaint read.