Leyte mayor charged with graft

Baybay City, Leyte, Philippines – The mayor here was charged with graft before the Office of the Ombudsman yesterday.

Jane Aguilar, investigating prosecutor at the Office of the Ombudsman in Cebu City, received the complaint at around 9:20 a.m. 

In their affidavit, Vertillano Relevo, Agustin Bacusmo and Oscar Balan, alleged that Mayor Carmen Cari purchased office supplies and medicines worth P7, 391, 009.31 without public bidding as required under the Government Procurement Reform Actor or Republic Act 9184.

The complainants attached in their complaint the 2010 report of the Commission on Audit, which said “the use of shopping method in the procurement of such materials and supplies is illegal and unwarranted.”

Cari in an interview last Oct. 31, said she is ready to face her accusers, adding that she has all the documents to disprove their allegations.