Philippines files first cases against officials in graft scandal
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Members of an influential religious group participating in an anti-corruption protest in Manila on Nov 16.
PHOTO: AFP
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MANILA – The Philippines’ anti-graft watchdog filed criminal charges against former lawmaker Zaldy Co and public works officials for their alleged involvement in irregularities in flood infrastructure.
The charges filed by the Office of the Ombudsman before the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court were for violations of laws against graft and malversation of public funds, the office’s spokesperson said in a televised briefing on Nov 18.
These are the first legal charges filed in court against those implicated in the corruption scandal as the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr moves to restore public trust and investor confidence.
Co, who was head of the House of Representatives’ appropriations committee before he resigned, said last week that he did not benefit from the graft scheme and accused Mr Marcos of receiving 25 billion pesos (S$552 million) in kickbacks, a claim the president’s office has labelled “propaganda”.
The graft scandal has gripped the South-east Asian nation since Mr Marcos first exposed the misuse of state funds in July. It has dampened investor confidence, causing economic growth to slump in the third quarter and weakening the peso and the stock market. BLOOMBERG
