The Sandiganbayan convicted former Philippine Social Development Foundation, Inc. (PSDFI) President Evelyn de Leon of two counts each for graft and malversation for the misuse of public funds concerning the pork barrel scam in 2007.
The PSDFI was a non-government organization (NGO) controlled and operated by de Leon. It was one of Janet Lim Napoles’ bogus NGOs, wherein Php 1,500,000 worth of public funds were amassed to fund ghost government projects.
According to previous accounts, the PSDFI was regarded as a “legitimate and bona fide entity” with a good track record and is capable of implementing training and livelihood projects. These were all under the guise of implementing development projects for the 2nd District of Cagayan de Oro City.
Funds from the said NGO by the City district’s Representative Rufus Rodriguez through the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), the official name for pork barrel.
Moreover, the Sandiganbayan also ruled that de Leon submitted false documents to liquidate the disbursements approved by then Technology Resource Center (TRC) director general Antonio Ortiz. The so-called project implementation turned out to be false and could not have justified the initial disbursements of its retention fee.
“Thus, PSDFI, acting through its president, De Leon, was allowed by Ortiz, through the disbursement vouchers, to take and misappropriate funds under his watch and to use them for PSDFLs own benefit,” the Sandiganbayan wrote.
“Through their concerted acts, the aggregate amount of Php 3.5 million under the two Special Allotment Release Orders (SAROs) was misappropriated from the government when no project implementation was fully liquidated as to its intended purpose,” it added.
Through de Leon’s fraudulent and malicious acts on behalf of PSDFI, she was found to be criminally liable. The Sandiganbayan indicated that she squandered her opportunity to clear her name, opting not to present evidence in her defense.
De Leon was found to have violated the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and is subject to face 29 to 39 years of imprisonment. She will also be fined P3.5 million with a 6 percent annual interest once the conviction is finalized.
