Case may delay payment to ACT

CEBU, Philippines -  The payment to Asian College of Technology owned by Councilor Rodrigo “Bebot” Abellanosa might be withheld further following the filing of a case against the councilor before the Ombudsman for alleged conflict of interest.

A certain Philip Banguiran filed a criminal complaint for graft against Abellanosa for transacting with the city government as the owner of ACT, one of the participating colleges and universities in the city’s scholarship program.

Banguiran cited in his four-page complaint that Abellanosa is liable for violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for transacting with the city where he is an official and a stakeholder.

Councilor Jose Daluz III, campaign manager of Team Rama, said the pending case against Abellanosa can be a basis of the city government to withhold the payment to the College.

He said it would be prudent if the city will wait for the decision of the Ombudsman.

The city government still has over P60 million in payables to ACT representing three semesters.

Since the scholarship program started in 2009, ACT has now over 4,000 scholars.  ACT has not been receiving payment from city since 2010. 

“I wonder if the mayor should still continue to listen to Atty. Joey Daluz I have heard a lot of comments that his impulsive legal and power play prowess is causing a lot of lapses in the executive department. I hope this matter of withholding payment will not be another one in the making,” Abellanosa said when asked for comment.

Abellanosa earlier said he has not been paid because of the normal bureaucracy at City Hall.

“Or does the city still have money to pay its obligations? What a shame,” he added.

Abellanosa said he has no plans to rush the payment as he would prefer to demand payment after the election. By the time, he expects that Rep. Tomas Osmeña will be back in City Hall as mayor.  Osmeña is running against Mayor Michael Rama next year.

Rama said he will refer the matter to the legal office to see if the city should pay ACT given the pending case against Abellanosa.   (FREEMAN)