By Czarina Nicole O. Ong
Quezon City Councilor and actor Roderick Paulate has been charged with graft and falsification cases before the Sandiganbayan for allegedly hiring “fictitious job contractors” in his office in 2010.
Graft Investigation and Prosecution Officer II Michelle Villabesa charged Paulate with one count of violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and nine counts of falsification under Paragraph 2 of Article 171 of the Revised Penal Code.
His driver and liaison officer, Vicente Bajamunde, has been charged with one graft case and eight falsification cases.
From July to December 2010, the two were accused of causing undue injury to Quezon City in the total amount of R1,109,000 when they hired “fictitious job contractors” in Paulate’s office for his personal gain.
Thirty individuals were hired through a “fraudulent scheme” which involved the questionable Personal Data Sheets (PDS) prepared by Paulate’s chief of staff and the falsified job order or contract of service.
Paulate even wrote an endorsement letter to the Quezon City vice mayor for approval, another letter to the city budget officer for certification as to the existence of the appropriation, and one more letter to the city personnel officer for record purposes.
He also issued certifications declaring that his listed job contractors rendered 40 hours of service per week.
For his part, Bajamunde was directed to collect, on behalf of the ghost employees, the full amount of the falsified general payrolls.
The disbursing officer released the money to Bajamunde after he presented a falsely-signed payroll and Paulate’s authorization letter. No special power of attorney was presented.
Paulate’s total bail bond has been set at P246,000 for the graft charge and P24,000 for each falsification charge.
Bajamunde, on the other hand, has to pay P222,000 for his provisional liberty.
