Ex-NCotabato lawmaker seeks dismissal of cases

NORTH Cotabato Vice Gov. Gregorio Ipong asked the Sandiganbayan’s Sixth Division to dismiss the graft and malversation cases filed against him and four others over the alleged misappropriation of P4.9-million Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) in 2007 when he was the congressional representative of the province’s second district.

The Office of the Ombudsman, in filing the case, alleged that Ipong chose the “unaccredited and unqualified” non-government organization (NGO) Aaron Foundation Philippines Inc. (AFPI) as project partner in implementing PDAF-funded livelihood projects which turned out to be non-existent.