DA exec slapped with 30 falsification raps

By Florence F. Hibionada

The Office of the Ombudsman filed falsification charges against an official of the Department of Agriculture here for certifying as finished government projects that were, in fact, not yet accomplished.

In criminal cases 05-61067 to 96 now pending before Branch 39 of the 6 th Regional Trial Court, the Ombudsman charged Agricultural Technician 1 Abundio Legaspi for 30 counts of falsification of public documents.

Legaspi, according to the Ombudsman, was found to have committed “with deliberate intent, with intent to defraud and falsify, did then and there willfully, unlawfully and feloniously falsify a public document.” Recommeded bailbond for his provisional liberty is set at P24,000 for each count, or a total of P720,000. Government auditors will be among those who will testify against Legaspi.

The case stemmed from the various Grains Production Enhancement Program (GPEP) of the DA, of which he was provincial coordinator. Legaspi's responsibility included the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the program's agricultural engineering component.

The Ombudsman alleged that Legaspi certified that the multi-purpose drying pavements under the GPEP program were 100% completed “when in truth and in fact, as accused very well knew, the construction of the aforesaid MPDP was not so completed 100% thereby making untruthful statements in a narration of facts.”

These projects were supposedly implemented in the towns of Batad, Tubungan, Alimodian, Anilao, New Lucena, Lambunao, Sara, Sta. Barbara, Maasin, Ajuy, Pototan, Leon, Concepcion, Badiangan, Leganes, Januiay, San Miguel and Balasan.