DAVAO del Sur Gov. Marc Douglas Cagas paid P12.95 million on April 1, 2022 as restitution to the government as part of his plea bargaining agreement in relation to multiple criminal charges filed against him for alleged anomalous handling of his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).
In a resolution dated April 29, 2022, the Sandiganbayan Third Division ordered Douglas to appear before it at 8:30 a.m. on May 13, 2022 to be re-arraigned on four counts each of graft and malversation of public funds.
The first batch of PDAF cases were filed against Cagas in 2016 alleging that he funneled P11 million from his PDAF into bogus non-government organizations identified as the People’s Organization for Progress and Development Foundation Inc. (POPDFI) and the Social Development Program for Farmers Foundation Inc (SDPFFI) — both linked to co-accused Janet Napoles who was earlier convicted twice for plunder.
Prosecutors and government auditors said the defendants used the Technology Resource Center (TRC) and the National Agri-Business Corporation (Nabcor) as conduits to give the transaction a semblance of regularity.
In the second batch filed in 2017, Cagas was accused of unlawful transfer of P6 million from his PDAF into the Farmerbusiness Development Corp. through the Technology and Livelihood Resource Center (TLRC, later TRC).
In all instances, the Office of the Ombudsman said the supposed projects for Davao del Sur farmers turned out to be non-existent.
Other than Cagas and Napoles, also charged were officials of the NGOs and executives of TRC/TLRC and Nabcor.
Cagas has previously sought dismissal of the criminal charges, but all his attempts were denied by the Sandiganbayan.
On March 1, 2022, the governor and the prosecution submitted a joint motion asking the anti-graft court to approve the plea bargaining agreement where Cagas agreed to pay up a sum for restitution in exchange for the downgrading of the criminal offenses.
The court held in abeyance its approval pending submission of proof that Cagas has paid up the P12.95 million. In a compliance on April 4, 2022, the accused submitted Official Receipt No. 9700057 as proof of full payment.
“The Court notes the Compliance/Manifestation filed by accused Mark Douglas Chan Cagas, IV. Accordingly, the Court hereby approves the Joint Motion to Approved Attached Plea-bargaining Agreement,” the Sandiganbayan said.
