Senator Antonio Trillanes IV has filed a plunder complaint on Wednesday, November 8 at the Office of the Ombudsman against Senator Richard Gordon, in connection with the alleged “anomalous disbursements” or misuse of P200-million funds allocated to Philippine Red Cross (PRC) since 2004 to present.
The Senator who is also the chairman of the humanitarian organization faces accusations of plunder, graft, malversation of public funds, and violations of Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, RA 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act and Article VI Section 14 of the 1987 Constitution.
“Ordinarily, there would have been nothing objectionable or anomalous about a legislator allocating his PDAF funds for the Red Cross, considering (its stature as a premier humanitarian organization in the country),” Trillanes’ complaint read.
“However, there is a very clear anomaly and/or conflict of interest in the case of Sen. Gordon making the allocation of the said funds because he has been governor and has been chairman and chief executive officer of the Red Cross since 2004 up to the present,” it stated.
In a 23-page complaint affidavit, Trillanes alleged that there is an existence of conspiracy between Gordon and former secretary-general Gwendolyn Pang of PRC. The Senator said that Gordon funneled P193 million of his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) to the PRC.
Trillanes appealed that Gordon, if found guilty, must recommend his dismissal to the Senate and his perpetual disqualification from public office.
“There is an imperative need for this Honorable Office to investigate the subject alleged anomalous disbursements of the P200 Million PRC funds, around P193 Million of which came from the PDAF of Sen. Gordon, because if indeed the same were in fact amassed, accumulated and/or eventually utilized or used in support of Sen. Gordon’s candidacy as President in 2010 and as Senator in 2013, there would be a very clear case for the filing of criminal charge for the crime of plunder against Sen. Gordon and Ms. Pang,” the complaint read.
“The existence of a conspiracy between respondents Gordon and Pang in the commission of the violations subject of this Complaint is shown by their concurrence of wills and unity to action and purpose, with respondent Pang entering into the anomalous transactions for the benefit of respondent Gordon, and respondent Gordon acting to cover-up and/or gloss over the transgressions of respondent Pang, thus, showing a tacit, spontaneous coordination between them.”
In September, Gordon also filed an ethics complaint against Trillanes for his misbehavior during the hearing on the P6.4 billion shabu shipment from China. Trillanes also filed the same complaint against Gordon.