2 mayors, 11 others charged with graft

MANILA, Philippines -- The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the filing of graft charges before the Sandiganbayan against two mayors and 11 other incumbent and former local officials for various offenses.

In a 12-page resolution, Ombudsman Ma. Merceditas Gutierrez said Mayor Ignacio Taruc and municipal treasurer Imelda Umoso of Buguey, Cagayan are being charged for their refusal to pay the 2007 salaries of five casual employees amounting to P32,000.

On the other hand, Mayor Amelita Navarro of Santiago City, Isabela is being charged with nepotism under the Revised Administrative Code of 1987 for appointing her husband, Jose Navarro, as a director, representing the medical sector, of the Santiago City Water District, a government-owned and controlled corporation.

Gutierrez ordered the filing of similar charges against former Tuguegarao City mayor Randolph Ting for the acquisition of three lots for a cemetery project found to be “grossly and manifestly disadvantageous” to the city government.

The parcels of land were alleged to have been purchased “knowing fully well that the price was way above the fair market price” and despite the lack of a project study and initial clearance from the Department of Health and Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

In another case, Gutierrez ordered the filing of less serious physical injury charges against former mayor Blas Canlas, former Association of Barangay Captains president Adriano Padilla, and barangay captain Napoleon de la Cruz, all of Laur, Nueva Ecija.

Based on the complaint, the local executives allegedly conspired with each other in inflicting physical injuries to a Laur resident.

Gutierrez said former mayor Remedios Bantug, city treasurer Nilda Generoso, city budget officer Glenda Armada, city accountant Mary Jean Ramos, and General Services Office officer-in-charge Ferdinand Palanca, all of Victorias City, Negros Occidental, are being charged with falsification of an official/public document before the Sandiganbayan.

They were accused of falsifying an abstract of bids by allegedly making it appear that three companies – Sonoray Medical Enterprises Inc., International Works Bell Inc. and Versaflex Pharma – submitted bids for a Quantum X-ray machine.

Investigation, however, revealed that only Sonoray Medical Enterprises offered to provide the city with such an X-ray machine.

Gutierrez said former mayor Rogelio Baquerfo Sr. of Tudela, Cebu is being charged with malversation of public property for converting into his own personal use and benefit some 350 bags of cement valued at P339,233.