San Pedro says graft raps just 'political machination'

MANILA, Philippines - Muntinlupa City Mayor Aldrin San Pedro said yesterday a graft case filed against him by the camp of his rival candidate is “pure political machination” intended to gain them media mileage.

“They (complainants) knew very well that no public funds were used in the travel of the local (Department of Education or) DepEd officials,” San Pedro said.

Opposition Councilor Allen Ampaya and resident Amelita Argana charged San Pedro of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for allegedly using government funds to cover the cost of travel of some 32 city and DepEd officials to Hong Kong last January. The case was filed with the Ombudsman Monday, five days before the start of the campaign period for local elections.

Public information office chief Omar Acosta said Ampaya, who is seeking re-election, is a nephew of former mayor Jaime Fresnedi, San Pedro’s main rival in the race for the city’s top post.

Mayor San Pedro said he has yet to receive a copy of the complaint, but he vowed to answer point-by-point all issues raised by the complainants.

“I always have faith in our judicial system. I know that in the end, the truth will come out that there was really nothing illegal nor improper in the travel of those DepEd personnel, who by the way were allowed to go on the said trip by no less than the Honorable Secretary (Jesli Lapus),” he said.

San Pedro added that he is not surprised by the filing of the case as it is just part of a series of moves by his political opponent, who reportedly lags far behind in the latest people’s survey of preferred candidates in the city. – Rhodina Villanueva