MANILA — The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division has moved the arraignment of former National Livelihood Development Corporation (NLDC) officials Gondelina Amata and Gregoria Buenaventura to Aug. 6 as it has yet to resolve motions they filed seeking the dismissal of the graft case against them.

In a report, it said that in an order issued by the court chaired by Associate Justice Zaldy Trespeses, the anti-graft court said it has not yet acted on the separate motions to quash the information filed by the Office of the Ombudsman on June 3.

The prosecution was also given time to submit its comments on the motions.

According to the information filed by Ombudsman prosecutors, Amata and Buenaventura allegedly conspired with the late NLDC President Emmanuel Sevidal, Kabuhayan at Kalusugan Alay sa Masa Foundation Inc. (KKAMFI) project coordinator Marilou Antonio, and C.C. Barredo Publishing House proprietor Carmelita Barredo in the implementation of a livelihood project funded through the 2009 Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).

The prosecution alleged that KKAMFI was selected as the project partner without undergoing the accreditation and selection process required under Commission on Audit Circular No. 2007-001.

The complaint further stated that the accused authorized the release of P2.91 million to KKAMFI through two disbursement vouchers under a Special Allotment Release Order dated July 2, 2009, even though the livelihood project intended for the second district of Davao del Sur was allegedly never implemented.

Prosecutors also alleged that falsified documents were prepared and submitted to create the impression that the project had been completed, resulting in undue injury to the government and unwarranted benefits to KKAMFI.

In a resolution dated June 8, the Sandiganbayan found probable cause to issue warrants of arrest and hold departure orders against Amata and Buenaventura.

Amata had previously been convicted by the Sandiganbayan of graft and malversation of public funds in connection with the alleged misuse of the P14.5 million PDAF of former Senator Gregorio Honasan II in 2009.

In 2025, the court also convicted Amata and detained businesswoman Janet Napoles in a separate malversation case involving the P9 million PDAF of the late former Benguet representative Samuel Dangwa.