Shimura, Loot face raps before Ombuds

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Provincial Board Member Sun Shimura and his mother, former Daanbantayan mayor Maria Luisa Loot, are facing criminal and administrative complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas for allegedly giving preference to their relatives in government transactions.

Rosanni Luche, chief of staff of Daanbantayan Mayor Augusto Corro, accused Loot and Shimura of allegedly giving undue advantage to Caridad Pepito to supply food, drinks, and accommodations to various persons and entities in different functions and events of the municipal government during their terms.

 Shimura also serve as town mayor before his election to the provincial board in 2010. Luche said that Pepito, owner and operator of Louise Marvi Beach Resort in Agujo, Daanbantayan, is the maternal aunt of Loot and is the grand aunt of Shimura.

“It is obvious that Hon. Sun J. Shimura and Hon. Maria Luisa J. Loot caused manipulation of the bidding, so that only Pepito will be awarded all the contracts,” he said.

 Luche said that the municipality has paid more than P1 million to Pepito for the services provided by the latter’s resort.

Luche said in his complaint-affidavit that Pepito has been the preferred supplier of the municipal government during Loot and Shimura’s administration.

Loot held office as mayor of Daanbantayan since 1998 to 2007. Shimura replaced her in 2007 until 2010. Loot again took the mayoralty seat in 2010 but lost her reelection bid to Corro in the May 2013 elections.

Luche also questioned the validity of the canvasses made for the procurement of the meals and accommodations since the canvass papers allegedly did not contain the names of the signatory for the establishments being canvassed.

 He further alleged that the canvassed prices were manipulated, citing the minimal variances in the prices which were in favor of Pepito.

To prove such, Luche attached the affidavit of Maria Lelani Monton, the manager of Lagkaw Lodge in Barangay Poblacion, who also reportedly offers the same services and facilities.

 He cited that Monton attested that the municipal government did not conduct a canvass on her establishment for any of the functions conducted by the municipality.

 “There is a clear and premeditated effort on the “canvassers” of the municipality to exclude Lagkaw Lodge and other similar establishments in Daanbantayan in order to favor the relative of Hon. Sun J. Shimura and Hon. Maria Luisa J. Loot,” he said.

 Luche asked the Ombudsman - Visayas to investigate the alleged anomalous transactions. The Ombudsman - Visayas received the complaint last Friday, August 14.

Sought for comment, Loot said that they have not yet received a copy of Luche’s complaint but said they are willing to face the allegations against them.  (FREEMAN)