MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman has filed graft charges against a former Davao Oriental town mayor for receiving P2 million from a consultancy firm in exchange for entering into a contract to build a public market and commercial complex project.
The Office filed the criminal charges against former mayor William Duma-an of Caraga, Davao Oriental for requesting and receiving money in exchange for entering into a consultancy contract with RR Summit Consultants Inc. (RR Summit).
Records show that in 2010, Duma-an visited the house of Roseller Macayra, Chief Executive Officer of RR Summit, to discuss its three percent service fee as consultant on the municipality’s P110 million loan facility for the construction of the Caraga public market, terminal and commercial complex project.
After assuring RR Summit that the consultancy project will push through, Duma-an asked several loans amounting to P2 million which was deposited in his personal bank account.
Duma-an said he obtained the loan "so he could pay the debts incurred in the May 2010 elections."
The loan was formalized via a notarized contract with loan confirmation and promissory note. Despite demand, Duma-an failed to make any payment to RR Summit.
"In asking and receiving a loan of P2,000,000 from complainant, he secured for himself a personal benefit, which he was able to obtain by dangling the guarantee of releasing the 3% service fee stated in the consultancy agreement between complainant and the municipality," the resolution read.