TUBAO, La Union– Former La Union congressman
Thomas Dumpit Jr. is being investigated by the Office of the Ombudsman for
allegedly releasing P43.65 million in Priority Development Assistance
Fund (PDAF) to an alleged fake non-government organization (NGO).
Documents presented by
a fact-finding committee to local officials here showed Dumpit allegedly
released the amount to the Kabuhayan at Kalusugan Alay saMasa Foundation, Inc.
(KKAMFI), an NGO described by the Commission on Audit (COA) as “dubious.”
Based on an audit
report, Dumpit allegedly provided livelihood kits to residents here containing
manicure and pedicure supplies and agricultural equipment, which were coursed
through KKAMFI.
Dumpit, in an
interview with Bombo Radyo-La Union, denied the allegations, saying he has no
connections with the fake NGO.
He said he gave funds
to Tubao for the town’s civic center and for infrastructure and irrigation
projects.
Residents, former
barangay chairmen and Vice Mayor Dante Garcia, who was the town mayor during
the term of Dumpit from 2007 to 2010, denied receiving such livelihood projects
and equipment from KKAMFI.
“No livelihood kits, no agricultural
assistance from that NGO,” the residents and former village officials said in
an affidavit they sworn in before the Ombudsman’s investigators here
Wednesday.
Dumpit allegedly
submitted the names, ID pictures and signatures of the recipients of livelihood
and agricultural assistance.
But it was found out
during the investigation that some of the names were non-existent and
non-residents of Tubao. Some signatures were allegedly forged.
Dumpit, then allied
with former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, served only one term and was
defeated in the 2010 congressional race by now Rep. Eufranio Eriguel.
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