CEBU, Philippines - Laywer Aristotle Batuhan filed criminal complaints against Councilor Rodrigo Abellanosa yesterday before the Visayas Ombudsman for graft and violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
.In his complaint, Batuhan asked the Ombudsman to put Abellanosa under preventive suspension pending the resolution of the case.
Batuhan said this has to be done to prevent Abellanosa from intimidating witnesses and destructing evidence vital in the prosecution of the case.
He said Abellanosa was part of the scholarship committee of Cebu City and is currently the chairman of the board, president, founding member and substantial owner of Asian College of Technology (ACT) Inc. and Asian College of Technology International Educational Foundation, Inc.
Cebu City has an annual budget of P100 million for the scholarship program.
Over 5,000 of the beneficiaries of the program who are receiving P11,000 scholarship grants from the city chose to enroll in ACT because Abellanosa also gives each of them P10,000 of scholarship grants.
Batuhan said, Abellanosa, being a member of the scholarship committee, “directly benefited and his school in countless ways from the time said committee accredited the ACT to accept scholars and correspondingly collect payment from the city to their tuition and related expenses.â€
Batuhan alleged that Abellanosa participated in the passage of a series of resolutions authorizing the city government to enter into a memorandum of agreement with the ACT under the City’s College Scholarship Program.
He added the city entered a compromise agreement with the ACT to condone back taxes in exchange for free scholarships.
Batuhan said this is grossly disadvantageous to other equally qualified institutions of learning in the city.
Batuhan asked the Office of the Ombudsman to issue a resolution finding probable cause that warrants the filing of case against Abellanosa.
About two weeks ago, Batuhan also filed an administrative complaint for grave misconduct prejudicial to the services, grave abuse of authority, patent dishonesty and dereliction of duty before the Office of the President against Abellanosa.
But Abellanosa said he is not afraid of the charges that Batuhan filed against him.
“Totol is entitled to his own acts of desperation. We all know he is just using all of us, including the media to advance his political agenda that has never taken off. Nasuya lang na siya kay wala man gud na siya’y eskwelahan diin makahatag siya og scholarship grants alang sa mga kabus. Unsa may iyang natabang sa mga pobre nga estudyante?†Abellanosa reacted.
Abellanosa and Batuhan are running against each other for a seat in congress representing Cebu City’s South District in the May 13 local and national elections.
Abellanosa said his lawyers are studying the possibility of filing perjury charges against Batuhan. – Mylen P. Manto, Rene U. Borromeo/MBG(FREEMAN)