Ombudsman files malversation, graft charges against Army major general

By Charlie V. Manalo

06/18/2010

The Office of the Ombudsman yesterday filed malversation and graft charges before the Sandiganbayan against a major general of the Philippine Army (PA) for failing to account P3 million and for receiving money from an Army sergeant for the enlistment of a soldier-applicant.

In a four-page information lodged before the anti-graft court, approved and signed by Overall Deputy Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro, indicted for malversation is Maj. Gen. Jose Barbieto.

Probable cause was found by Graft Investigation and Prosecution Officer III Mary Rawnsle Lopez against Barbieto which warranted the filing of the cases and must be held for trial.

It was stated that on Dec. 21, 2007 Barbieto, who was then assigned to Camp Edilberto Evangelista, Cagayan de Oro City as the commanding general of the PA, “received by reason of his office, did then and there, willfully, unlawfully and feloniously embezzle and malverse the amount of P3 million of which he failed to properly liquidate and account for being part of the P6 million allotted for the Balik Baril Funds sometime in the 3rd and 4th quarters of 2007.”

Two separate information were also filed before the Sandiganbayan against Barbieto along with Staff Sgt. Roseller Echepare for committing two counts of graft for acting in conspiracy to allow the enlistment of a soldier-applicant in exchange for money.

Barbieto and Echepare were charged for violating Section 3B of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for causing undue injury to the interest of the government and to the victims concerned.

It was stated that Barbieto allegedly took “advantage of his official position and committing the offense in relation to his office, as he is in charge of recruiting and enlisting candidate soldiers for the 4th Infantry Division and accused Roseller Echepare, a public officer, a member of the PA, of conspiring, confederating and mutually aiding each other, did then and there, willfully, inlawfully and criminally directly or indirectly, request and receive from S/Sgt. Allan Joel Timbal the amount of P25,000 in exchange for enlistment to the Philippine Army of Ronald Raut, the brother-in-law of Timbal.”

The second count of graft was for allegedly receiving P25,000 from Private Butch Ramos in exchange for the enlistment to the PA.

Named witnesses to these charges were Col. Augusto Tolentino, Lt. Col. Emmanuel Sinogba, Ramos and Timbal.

The Office of the Ombudsman recommended a P40,000 bail for the temporary liberty of the accused in the malversation charge while P30,000 bail for each charge was recommended against the accused for the two separate counts of graft.

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