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Philippine agency recommends graft charges against ex-president Aquino
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This file photo taken on June 1, 2016 shows Philippines' President Benigno Aquino (left) inspecting honor guards during the Philippine Navy's 118th anniversary celebrations in Manila. Former Philippine president Benigno Aquino was charged in a special court on Nov. 8 over an anti-jihadist raid that left 44 police commandos dead, the office of the government Ombudsman said. (Agence France -Presse/Noel Celis)
T
he Philippine anti-graft agency on Wednesday recommended charges of corruption against former president Benigno Aquino, for disbursing more than a billion dollars of state funds without the required approval of Congress.
Aquino, the only son of democracy icon and former leader Corazon Aquino, also faces separate charges of negligence over the deaths of 44 police commandos in 2015 in a botched counter-insurgency operation that marked the biggest crisis of his presidency, from 2010 to 2016.
There was "probable cause" to charge Aquino for "usurping the powers of Congress" in approving requests to spend 72 billion pesos ($1.35 billion) in 2012, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales said.
Abigail Valte, a spokeswoman for Aquino, said she was waiting for instructions from the former president before providing comment.
The ombudsman has reversed a decision to clear Aquino after left-wing lawmakers filed a review motion against last year's ruling, accusing him of giving the funds to his legislative allies.
It has now found strong evidence that Aquino colluded with his budget minister to illegally disburse funds without passing through Congress.
The Supreme Court in 2014, while Aquino was still in power, declared the transfer of public funds was "illegal" and "unconstitutional", but no follow-up action was taken.
Aquino's budget secretary, Florencio Abad, was indicted on Wednesday for the same offence. Abad made no immediate comment.
