Lawmaker, governor indicted for transfer of Bohol assets

MANILA, Philippines - Bohol Rep. Rene Relampagos and Gov. Edgardo Chatto are facing charges before the Sandiganbayan for transferring the assets and franchises of the province’s power and water utility services to a private consortium in 2002.

The charges against Relampagos, a cousin of Budget and Management Undersecretary Mario Relampagos, and Chatto stemmed from a joint venture they entered into with the Salcon consortium.

The contract for the transfer of the utility assets was signed when Relampagos was governor and Chatto vice governor.

Aside from them, also charged were former provincial officials Juanito Cambangay of the planning and development office and Inocentes Lopez of the legal office, members of the provincial board – Arnold Lungay, Isabelito Tongco, Concepcion Lim, Eufrasio Mascarinas, Tomas Abapo Jr., Felix Uy, Exequiel Madrinan, Francisco Alesna Sr., Severino Caberte, Renato Lim and Lemuel Digal – and  private respondent Dennis Villareal of the Salcon consortium.

Bail was set at P30,000 for each of the respondents.

In a complaint signed by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, the respondents allegedly conspired to transfer the assets and franchises of the provincial water and power utilities to the private consortium.

The ombudsman said the respondents’ action was disadvantageous to the government.

Records showed the respondents sold to the private consortium the assets and franchises of the province’s power and water utilities for P75 million and P80 million, respectively.

The ombudsman said the contract was undervalued, noting the combined assets and franchises of the utilities were worth P782 million. – With Ric Obedencio/Freeman