“Concerned Citizen” files more charges vs. Abellanosa

CEBU, Philippines -  In addition to his complaint filed before the anti-graft office againstCebu City Councilor Rodrigo “Bebot” Abellanosa, a concerned citizen filed a supplemental complaint-affidavit for violation of Republic Act 6713 or Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

In his two-page supplemental affidavit, Phillip Banguiran, a resident of Barangay Inayawan, Cebu City, said that aside from the anti-graft case, BOPK’s congressional candidate for Cebu City South district likewise violated RA 6713.

Banguiran cited “conflict of interest” in sending Cebu City scholars to the Asian College of Technology (ACT).

He said the conflict of interest was highlighted during the regular session of the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Cebu on February 22, 2012, when Abellanosa moved for the approval of an ordinance establishing the Cebu City College.

In his affidavit, Banguiran said the ordinance also authorizes the appropriation of funds for the Cebu City College which was referred to as “an institution of higher learning for the poor but deserving constituents of Cebu City.”

“Despite being reminded by a fellow member of the council on the conflict of interest provision of RA 6713, respondent still insisted for his inclusion in the City Scholarship Committee, which is tasked to screen and monitor those who are qualified to avail of the scholarship program of the Cebu City Government,” the affidavit further reads.

Abellanosa is the president of the Asian College of Technology International Educational Foundation (ACTIEF) Incorporated.

Lawyer Edmund Lao said the actuation of Abellanosa falls under RA 6713.

Under the law, the conflict of interest was defined as “when a public official or employee is a member of a board, an officer, or a substantial stockholder of a private corporation or owner or has a substantial interest in a business and the interest of such corporation or business, or his rights or duties therein, may be opposed to or affected by the faithful performance of official duty.”

Meanwhile, Team Rama’s congressional candidate for Cebu City South district, Atty. Aristotle Batuhan, said his presence in the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas was purely to show support to Banguiran.

Batuhan said that since Banguiran filed complaints before the Ombudsman, there’s no need for him to file another complaint before the said office.

He said he will be filing a complaint before the Office of the President against Abellanosa in the first week of January.

Batuhan said he will be asking the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to investigate the issue of tax evasion and the Commission on Audit (COA) to look into the issue.

Batuhan clarified that he is not against the scholarship but he just wanted to stop the practice of Abellanosa.

 “Kung sakyan og negosyo di ni molungtad nga programa. (If we mix business with the scholarship program, this will not last)”,  he said.

Batuhan said he was constrained to question the acts of Abellanosa and challenge the administration and the Liberal Party to investigate this matter.

Abellanosa, in his earlier comment, said he has not caused disadvantage to anybody and that he gained nothing from the scholarship program because he gave a counterpart for scholars who cannot afford to pay the balance.” (FREEMAN)