The Sandiganbayan building in Quezon City, February 19, 2020 Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File
MANILA —- Tarlac Third District Rep. Noel "Bong" Rivera is facing nine counts of graft over conflict of interest in infrastructure projects before the Sandiganbayan.
The cases were filed on Friday and were raffled off to six anti-graft court divisions. These include the first, second, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh court divisions.
Rivera reportedly owns Tarlac 3-G Construction & Development Corp with his wife, Concepcion Vice Mayor Evelyn Rivera.
Ombudsman to have Noel Rivera, Jojo Ang answer conflict of interest allegations
The Office of the Ombudsman earlier said it was pursuing cases against Rivera.
“These are companies that have won a lot of the contracts are companies that are believed to be theirs, or at least they have beneficial ownership over," Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano previously said.
Pyra Lucas, founder of United Pilipino Against Crime and Corruption, previously filed raps against the Rivera couple for allegedly conspiring to channel around P600 million in government contracts to a company they allegedly own.
She also claimed that Rivera signed around 30 government contracts awarded to the company since 2018.
Lucas earlier urged the graft-busting body to investigate the couple's alleged mansions, luxury vehicles, landholdings and resort properties.
Rivera previously denied any involvement in corruption, and said he is ready to face the allegations against him.
"Mariin ko pong itinatanggi na ako po ay nasangkot sa anumang uri ng korapsyon. Malinis po ang aking konsensya," he said.
OTHERS CHARGED
The Office of the Ombudsman also filed other criminal cases on Friday before the anti-graft court.
Roy Papica Abad, a colonel assigned to the 1304th Philippine Navy Dental Dispensary of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, is facing two counts of violating the Safe Spaces Act, or the Bawal Bastos Law, before the Third and Sixth Divisions.
In a separate case, former Zarraga, Iloilo Mayor Ma. Jofel Soldevilla and Zarraga Sangguniang Bayan member Michael Omar Lacson were charged with graft before the Second Division, chaired by Presiding Justice Geraldine Faith Econg.
The Ombudsman earlier dismissed Soldevilla from service in a decision dated Sept. 22 for grave misconduct over the alleged purchase of the town's Local Shelter Plan in 2023 without the authority of the municipal council.
Meanwhile, former Iriga City Mayor Ronald Alfelor and Rosanna Odavar Ariño are facing charges of falsification of public documents before the court’s Third Division, chaired by Associate Justice Karl Miranda.
Also charged before the anti-graft court are Pasay City Councilor Marlon Pesebre and accountant Alegria Casugay, who face two counts of technical malversation before the First and Third Divisions.
Former Pasay City Councilor Reynaldo Padua and Casugay were also charged with technical malversation before the Fourth Division.