Davao City- Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has nothing more to say but “good luck” to former House Speaker and Davao City Representative Nograles who is charged with a graft case by investigators of the Ombudsman together with other Arroyo allies.
During Duterte’s Gikan sa Masa Para sa Masa weekly program today he said that it is hard for him to comment because the case is already filed before the Sandiganbayan. “If it’s with the Sandiganbayan, I cannot comment. It will not be proper for me and for anybody else to talk about the issue,” he said.
According to news reports, the Ombudsman have included Nograles in complaints for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act with former Agriculture Secretary and incumbent Bohol Representative Arthur Yap, former Bukidnon Representative Candido Pancrudo, and former La Union Representative Thomas Dumpit, Jr.
The four are accused of malversation of P163.2 million in Priority Development Assistance Funds channeled through various agencies and non-government organizations between 2007 and 2009.
Nograles, in news reports, refused to comment on the case and maintained that he is “retired and now a private citizen and not public property.”
Duterte recounted the case of the demolished Nograles park in 2009 which was built on top of a canal along Mini Forest, Boulevard in the city.
“He wasted so much money of the people actually,” the mayor said pertaining to the park built over the canal which caused flooding.
Duterte also warned public officials who are involved in graft cases to prepare for their imprisonment.
