Ex-Olongapo mayor charged with graft

OLONGAPO CITY, Philippines – Former mayor James Gordon Jr. is facing two separate graft charges before the Office of the Ombudsman for alleged unauthorized government transactions.

Olongapo City Mayor Rolen Paulino told The STAR that a Commission on Audit (COA) report was his basis for filing the case against the former mayor; the former head of the city government’s general service office, Victor Bernabe; and accountant Dennis Martinez.

He said a COA report stated that from January to June 2013, there were P19,407,658.40 and P11,232.80 “ghost deliveries” of various supplies charged against the public utilities department fund and part of the proceeds of the sale of Subic Water and Sewerage Co.

“They purchased supplies but there was no delivery of the items as per the COA report. We are not talking about thousands of pesos here, we are talking about millions of pesos from taxpayers’ money,” he said.

Gordon denied the accusations against him in an interview with The STAR but vowed to face the charges, which he dismissed as political harassment.

He assured the public that all government transactions during his term were properly processed, authorized and approved by the city council.

Paulino said another graft case was filed by city administrator Mamerto Malabute against Gordon over the sale of four parcels of government land to the Olongapo Electric Distribution Co.

These government lands are a 2,133-square meter lot in Barangay Mabayuan; a 2,122-square meter property and 1,360-square meter lot, both in Barangay Kalaklan; and a property along the national highway in Barangay Old Cabalan.

Paulino said there was no authority to sell from the city council and the sale was executed six days before he assumed office as the new mayor.

City treasurer Marcelino Andawi also certified that his office did not receive any payment for the sale of the properties.

Former city budget head Beth Marzan and former city legal officer Bernardine Gantan were included in the charge sheet.