Sandiganbayan wants pardon for 73-year-old ex-envoy
The Sandiganbayan has recommended executive clemency for former Philippine Ambassador to Nigeria Masaranga Umpa, who was was found guilty of malversation.
In a decision penned by Associate Justice Rodolfo Ponferrada, the court said that Umpa, 73, should be pardoned, citing that while Umpa was found guilty of malversation, his crime was committed out of negligence.
“The Court, while it is obliged to apply the penalty provided for the offense charged, believes that it is too harsh and excessive under the circumstances, hence, pursuant to Art 5 par 2 of the RPC hereby recommends to the Chief Executive, through the DOJ, for the commutation of the penalty, if not pardon of the accused, in these cases,” part of the decision said.
Umpa’s case stemmed from the misuse of funds sent to the Philippine Embassy in Nigeria in 2007, during the time when 25 Filipinos were abducted by rebels there.
In February 2007, the Department of Foreign Affairs released $174,000, or roughly P7.48 million, in Assistance to National (ATN) Standby funds for the safe release of 25 Filipino migrant workers abducted in Nigeria.
But the DFA alleged that Umpa fabricated documents so that $95,856 will be paid to "non-existing or highly irregular transactions."
In its complaint, the DFA said that spurious documents made it apepar that the Philippine government paid Wellington Hotel Limited in Nigeria to cover the cost of six hotel rooms and meals of 11 police escorts.
The department also noted that there was a $1,565, or roughly P67,295, transaction that supposedly covered the breakfast and lunch expenses of the OFWs at the hotel.
However, the DFA found this questionable because Nigerian hotel accountant Adeleke Osinuga attested that the documents to support the payment were forged as the hotel did not issue such documents.
The Sandiganbayan found Umpa guilty early in March.
In its decision, the anti-graft court’s First Division cited Umpa’s long service in government and old age as grounds for his pardon.
It noted that Umpa “did not fall short in his duties to our country especially under such a high risk and life-threatening operation that involved the rescue and repatriation of our 25 countrymen who were held captives in that rebel-infested area in Nigeria.”
The Sandiganbayan also directed that a copy of the decision be furnished to Justice Secretary Leila De Lima. —KBK, GMA News
In a decision penned by Associate Justice Rodolfo Ponferrada, the court said that Umpa, 73, should be pardoned, citing that while Umpa was found guilty of malversation, his crime was committed out of negligence.
“The Court, while it is obliged to apply the penalty provided for the offense charged, believes that it is too harsh and excessive under the circumstances, hence, pursuant to Art 5 par 2 of the RPC hereby recommends to the Chief Executive, through the DOJ, for the commutation of the penalty, if not pardon of the accused, in these cases,” part of the decision said.
Umpa’s case stemmed from the misuse of funds sent to the Philippine Embassy in Nigeria in 2007, during the time when 25 Filipinos were abducted by rebels there.
In February 2007, the Department of Foreign Affairs released $174,000, or roughly P7.48 million, in Assistance to National (ATN) Standby funds for the safe release of 25 Filipino migrant workers abducted in Nigeria.
But the DFA alleged that Umpa fabricated documents so that $95,856 will be paid to "non-existing or highly irregular transactions."
In its complaint, the DFA said that spurious documents made it apepar that the Philippine government paid Wellington Hotel Limited in Nigeria to cover the cost of six hotel rooms and meals of 11 police escorts.
The department also noted that there was a $1,565, or roughly P67,295, transaction that supposedly covered the breakfast and lunch expenses of the OFWs at the hotel.
However, the DFA found this questionable because Nigerian hotel accountant Adeleke Osinuga attested that the documents to support the payment were forged as the hotel did not issue such documents.
The Sandiganbayan found Umpa guilty early in March.
In its decision, the anti-graft court’s First Division cited Umpa’s long service in government and old age as grounds for his pardon.
It noted that Umpa “did not fall short in his duties to our country especially under such a high risk and life-threatening operation that involved the rescue and repatriation of our 25 countrymen who were held captives in that rebel-infested area in Nigeria.”
The Sandiganbayan also directed that a copy of the decision be furnished to Justice Secretary Leila De Lima. —KBK, GMA News
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