CABANATUAN CITY—The camp of former three-term Nueva Ecija governor Aurelio Umali on Saturday broke its silence on accusations of misuse of his Priority Development Assistance Fund, citing his “unblemished record” as a public servant untainted by corruption and irregularities.
Atty. Honorio Eduardo Reyes III, Umali’s counsel, said there is no truth to the findings of the Office of the Ombudsman that the former governor misused his P15-million PDAF when he was congressman in 2005.
“Records will bear him out that when Governor Umali was still congressman, his PDAF was used to alleviate the plight of poor farmers in the third congressional district,” Reyes said.
The Ombudsman released a resolution last week ordering graft and malversation cases before the Sandiganbayan against Umali and five co-accused.
Aside from the criminal indictment, Umali—husband of incumbent Gov. Czarina Umali—was also found guilty of administrative offenses of grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
The Ombudsman ordered Umali perpetually disqualified from holding public office and forfeited his retirement benefits.
However, Reyes said all of Umali’s PDAF was legally utilized in helping his constituents.
“We categorically deny all the allegations of irregularities in the use of the PDAFs allocated to then-Congressman Umali,” he said.
As far as Umali is concerned, he has an unblemished record not only as a member of Congress “but likewise during his full three terms as governor of Nueva Ecija from 2007 to 2016,” Reyes said.
The Ombudsman’s findings “are farthest from the truth,” he added, taking exception to its field investigation supposedly revealing that the irrigation pumps and fertilizers were never given to the farmers.
“The projects were received by the farmers, contrary to the reports,” Reyes said, and while they disagree with the Ombudsman’s ruling, they will file a motion for reconsideration.
The Ombudsman’s findings are not final but are merely part of a legal procedure, he stressed.
“What is troublesome here is that the public may already perceive that Umali was already found guilty by final judgment both criminally and administratively even when the legal proceedings are just beginning. The political implication is manifestly unfair and oppressive as it creates an impression of guilt before there is final judgment,” Reyes said.
“We are absolutely confident that in due time, the findings will be overturned,” he added.
