Mayor faces criminal, administrative charges

Malabon City Mayor Amado Vicencio is facing anew administrative and criminal charges filed by opposition councilors, this time, for the alleged late filing of the city’s P357-million budget for 2002.

The Office of the Ombudsman also found sufficient basis to investigate the official’s participation in allegedly railroading the budget’s approval.

"Investigation shall proceed according to the existing rules," the two-page order approved by Ombudsman Aniano Disierto said.

Mary Susan Guillermo, Ombudsman administrative adjudication bureau director, ordered yesterday Vicencio to submit his counter-affidavit in 10 days upon receipt of the order to answer the complaint filed by opposition Councilors Chiqui Roque-Villaroel, Edilberto Torres, Payapa Ona and Venancio Sevilla, members of the minority, for violation of R.A. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code (LGC).

Vicencio could not be reached for comment but City Information Officer Abbi Balatbat said they have nothing to worry about, believing that Vicencio will be cleared of any wrongdoing in the end.

The case stemmed from a complaint lodged by the opposition councilors accusing the mayor of filing the executive budget beyond the time dictated by law.

Council secretary Hernan Dabalus said that according to the official records, the Office of the Mayor submitted the budget before the Sangguniang Panlunsod on Oct. 19 last year, three days beyond the mandatory period.

In their complaint, they quoted LGC Section 318: "The local chief executive shall submit the budget to the Sanggunian concerned not later than the 16th of October of the current fiscal year. Failure to submit such budget shall subject him to such criminal and administrative penalties as provided for under the Code and other applicable laws."

The budget ordinance, which was also being questioned before the Office of the President by the minority bloc, which now includes Vicencio’s former ally, Vice Mayor Mark Alian Jay Yambao, was approved by the majority bloc minus Yambao despite his being the council’s presiding officer.

Vicencio is also facing another criminal case filed by the same opposition group before the Sandiganbayan in violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. The charges stemmed from Vicencio’s alleged anomalous awarding of contract to a favored private contractor to build the proposed P122-million city hall in Barangay Catmon. — Jerry Botial