Diamante denies graft complaint

CEBU, Philippines - Tuburan Mayor Democrito “Aljun” Diamante denied the graft and corruption complaint filed against him before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas by one of the town’s opposition councilors.

Diamante described the complaint as a desperate move of a candidate he claimed to be a sure loser.

“The complaint filed against me is nothing but a desperate move of a councilor, who will surely lose in the upcoming election. Ngano ako man gyud ang iyang tirahan nga wa man koy gi- corrupt sa Tuburan,” said Diamante.

“I want to put the record straight, that the present Tuburan municipal government has zero corruption contrary to the claim made by some of the disgruntled candidates and officials in my town,” Diamante added.

Opposition Councilor Marie Tabotabo earlier filed a complaint before the anti-graft office against Diamante.

Tabotabo requested, among others, for an investigation for the meals of the doctors at P300 per head during the medical mission last February 4-8 in their town.

In a previous conference, majority of Diamante’s municipal councilors have strongly denied the accusations of Tabotabo saying these are all politically motivated.

Diamante said that as incumbent mayor he never used any government vehicle because he used his own private car and pay for the fuel and his personal driver’s salary using his own money.

Diamante, a businessman engaged in customs brokerage, trucking business and manning services, said that he and his brother, municipal Councilor Danny Diamante, donated their salaries to the different barangays which were used to renovate chapels, buy school chairs and tables, buy equipment for the church, construct public toilets and install foot paths.

Diamante said he maintained hundreds of scholars who are studying in different schools whose tuition fees and other expenses are paid with his own money and bought lands in Barangays Cabangahan and Kalanghan using his own money which are now the sites of barangay high schools.

“I spend my hard-earned money to give better service to the people of Tuburan. Sila unsa man ilang nahimo para sa mga taga Tuburan? Wala sila’y nahimo gawas sa pagsige ug pamasangil nga walay basehanan,” said Diamante.

Diamante is optimistic that the anti-graft office will dismiss the complaint against him.

“Tungod sa gibuhat sa akong mga kontra, mas nidaghan ang nisuporta nako. Daghang mga politiko nga nipaluyo aning Tabotabo nga kontra sad nako. Pero akong ipasalig nila nga dili ni makapatarug nako ang ilang mga pamasangil,” Diamante added.  (FREEMAN)