Baguio City legal chief accused of receiving bribes

MANILA, Philippines - The legal chief of Baguio City is facing graft complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly receiving bribes from government contractors and vendors’ cooperatives.

Three separate complaints have been filed against lawyer Melchor Carlos Rabanes, who is being accused of collecting commissions through a dummy.

In one complaint dated April 24, Angelo de la Peña, a member of the Samahan ng mga Kontratista sa Cordillera who is working for the approval of a water system in Baguio City, alleged that Rabanes was guaranteed a share in the income.

De la Peña said Rabanes’ dummy had received eight percent share since 2010, something which he described as “excessive.” 

De la Peña also alleged that the ranking local official was behind fake contracts for expropriation by the city government.

Another complainant, Edwin Uy, alleged that Rabanes received bribes for the undertaking of a feasibility study on a new water supply system conducted by an Australian firm and continued to receive bribes from the purchase of equipment.

The third complainant, Asucena Pawid, an officer of the Samahan ng mga Tindera/Trading Post Benguet Baguio, alleged that a collector for Rabanes regularly demanded sums from them.