Baguio mayor, dad cleared of graft

BAGUIO CITY — The Office of the Ombudsman has cleared Mayor Bernardo Vergara, a councilor and four other city officials of graft charges arising from the printing of souvenir programs for last year’s Charter Day.

Aside from Vergara, cleared were councilor Elmer Datuin, city treasurer Thelma Manaois, budget officer Leticia Clemente, assistant general services officer Antonio Padlan and accountant Tomas Manapat.

The case stemmed from a complaint by Linis Gobierno, an anti-graft non-government group, which alleged that the printing of souvenir programs worth P7,500 did not undergo regular bidding.

The Ombudsman ruled that the city officials duly established the "emergency nature" of the purchase and that there was insufficient evidence to held them liable for graft. — Artemio Dumlao