Ombudsman orders Joel Villanueva’s dismissal over P10-M pork barrel scam

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales said the dismissal order was approved after Villanueva and nine others were found liable for the misuse of the lawmaker’s 2008 Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).

Two days later, or on 12 June 2008, Villanueva requested then Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Arthur Yap to release the amount to the National Agri-business Corporation (NABCOR), as Implementing Agency (IA), with the AFPI as NGO-partner.

On 19 June 2008, a Memorandum of Agreement was entered into between Yap, as DA representative, and the NABCOR.

To utilize the P10 million PDAF, respondents purchased pechay, radish, sitaw, okra, hybrid yellow corn seedlings, liquid fertilizers and threshers from MJ Rickson Trading Corporation. The items procured were supposed to benefit the residents of the municipalities of Pantukan, Nabunturan, Tambongon, Bongabong, Napnapan, Mipangi, Anislagan and Magsaysay in the Compostela Valley province.