Graft case vs ex-Olongapo mayor junked

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga, Philippines  – The Office of the Ombudsman has dismissed a graft and malversation complaint filed against former city mayor James Gordon for the sale of a 300-square meter government property.

The anti-graft agency also cleared former city budget chief Marey Beth Marzan, assessor Oscar Agustin and legal officer Bernardine Gantan.

Mayor Rolen Paulino, who ordered the filing of the complaint, alleged that the sale of the property, including its power utility for P610.5 million, caused injury to the city government as this resulted in frequent power outage.

The ombudsman said otherwise, noting the sale was advantageous to the city government.

It said although the contract sale was only P610.5 million, the city government got a total of P623.6 million because of the interest the money accrued after it was deposited in an escrow account.

Gordon said the decision vindicated his administration’s move to privatize the public utility department property.

The property and the power facilities in it were sold to Olongapo Electric Distribution Corp.