MANILA, Philippines—A former ambassador is being haled to court over allegations that he misused more than $95,000 (roughly P4.1 million today) in funds meant for the safe release and repatriation of Filipino seamen abducted in Nigeria several years ago.
Acting Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro has ordered the filing of malversation charges against former Ambassador to Nigeria Masaranga Umpa for allegedly paying for nonexistent transactions related to the repatriation of Filipino overseas workers (OFWs).
The Office of the Ombudsman based its charges on a complaint filed by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
According to the Office of the Ombudsman, the DFA accused Umpa of using fabricated documents to support questionable transactions amounting to $95,856.
The DFA had sent Umpa $174,000 in 2007 to be used for the safe release and repatriation of 24 seamen and crew members of the Baco Liner II and one other OFW.
The DFA said that in one transaction, it was made to appear that Wellington Hotel Ltd. in Warri Delta State, Nigeria, was paid for the cost of six hotel rooms and meals for 11 police escorts.
But the transaction was found to be supported by fake documents. The hotel’s accountant, Adeleke Osinuga, told the DFA the documents presented to him for certification did not come from the hotel.
The hotel bills showed that breakfast and lunch charges amounted to $1,565, an amount the DFA found unbelievable.
It was further noted that the bills were not stamped “paid” and the charges were billed on the alleged date of departure. The cash vouchers were also not signed by the regular administrative officer. The hiring of 11 escorts was also excessive since only six were allowed.
Another questionable transaction was the supposed booking of a room at Hotel Presidential in February 2007 for police escorts. It was discovered that the escorts stayed at another hotel. Expenses amounting to $20,994 were supported by bogus documents, it was alleged.
Another supposed stay in March 2007 at the Hotel Presidential was also found to have never taken place, and the supporting documents were allegedly fabricated.
Umpa also allegedly presented documents to show that a helicopter and van were chartered to ferry OFWs. Again, the DFA found that no such vehicles were used.
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