Ex-Lipa mayor faces graft raps

MANILA, Philippines –  A former mayor of Lipa City, Batangas, together with six former and incumbent city officials and employees, and two businessmen, is facing a graft complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman for “ghost purchases” of P44 million worth of maintenance and construction supplies before and after the May 2010 elections.

Charged were former mayor Oscar Gozos, engineer Ireneo Adaya, former city engineer Renato Katigbak, city accountant Ma. Belen Mercardo-Villanueva, accounting inspectors Dante Litargo and Arnold del Rio, stock custodian Jonas Custodio, Virgilio Nestor Mendoza of V.N. Mendoza Trading, Maria Judy Silva of HSR 88 Trading and the latter’s representative, Rico Rosita.

The Ombudsman acted on the complaint filed by city engineer Roldan Lopez, who accused the respondents of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, fraud against the public treasury, falsification, qualified theft, direct bribery, violation of the Anti-Money Laundering Law, and violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, among other charges.

Lopez said his investigation showed that the respondents allegedly utilized fictitious programs to support the “ghost purchases” of maintenance and construction supplies for the city government.