Ex-municipal councilor files graft raps vs. Loot

A former councilor of Daanbantayan town has filed a criminal case for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act against Mayor Maria Luisa Loot for failing to protect the interest of the municipal government when one of its properties was allegedly intruded into by private individuals.

Rosanni Luche alleged in his complaint filed before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas that Loot committed gross dereliction of official duty when she failed to initiate legal action to protect the property of the municipal government from intruders.

Luche said that a 9,247.62-square-meter property of the municipal government in barangay Poblacion, which used to be the site of the public market and slaughterhouse is now occupied by private individuals and Loot allegedly did nothing about it, depriving the government of millions of pesos in income as a result.

The property, which has an estimated value of P18,495,240, was allegedly intruded into by Helito Cañete, Isagani Cañete and other relatives who built houses and other permanent structures on the lot.

Luche told the anti-graft body that the mayor should be indicted for gross abuse of authority, violation of public trust and graft and corruption.

Loot refused to comment on the complaint saying she has yet to receive a copy. But another source from the mayor's camp told The Freeman that the complaint is politically motivated because Luche is eyeing an elective position in the coming elections and belongs to the rival political camp of Loot. - Fred P. Languido