Government worker cleared of graft raps

CEBU, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas dismissed the criminal and administrative complaints filed against an employee of the Municipal Assessor’s Office of San Fernando, Cebu for being premature.

Graft investigator Irish Inabangan-Amores said the complainant failed to present evidence that respondent Mercy Natinga obtained a parcel of land through a fake deed of sale.

She said the absence of proof could mean the complaint “fail outrightly.”

“This Office can neither proceed to investigate the respondent’s possible criminal or administrative liability in the absence of any proof that the assailed deed of sale relied upon by respondent in transferring the subject lot located in San Fernando to her name, has been previously declared by our regular court to have been fake or falsified document,” the consolidated evaluation report reads.

The complaints were for alleged violation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act 3019 otherwise known as Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, falsification of public documents and grave misconduct.

In the complaint filed by Rogelio Natividad, he said he was the authorized representative of Marcos Natividad who is already deceased for the preparation of documents.

However, he said the respondent secretly transferred a portion of land owned by Marcos to her name at the Municipal Assessor’s Office of San Fernando and the Provincial Assessor’s Office.

Rogelio alleged that the respondent obtained the parcel of land through fake deed of sale.

In an evaluation, Amores said the complainant failed to submit a tax declaration under the name of respondent to support his claim.

“The allegations in the complaint was concise, the evidence submitted did not directly point to respondent, as in fact, not a single document submitted before us would show that the herein respondent was privy to such,” the consolidated evaluation report further reads. Amores added there must be a court decision stating that the document was fake. - THE FREEMAN