Mayor faces malversation raps in Ombuds

CEBU, Philippines - The mayor and seven officials of Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental are now facing before the Ombudsman a complaint of malversation of public funds for an alleged ghost project.

The charges were filed last Oct. 3 by the NBI-Western Visayas against Himamaylan City Mayor Agustin Ernesto Bascon, City Administrator Sofia Encarnacion, City Treasurer Caroline Castro, City Accountant Efren dela Rosa, City Engineer Vicente Genova and General Services officers Aleph Esparagoza, Jojie Cuevas and Anthony Olarte, for the non-delivery of materials for the repair and maintenance of Brgy. II health center, amounting to P37,500.50 in March last year.

NBI-6 regional director Manuel Almendares said in his letter, last Sept.23, to Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol, that the mayor and seven city officials violated Section 3 of Republic Act 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Almendares said NBI investigation showed  the electrical materials to be used in the repair and maintenance of  the health center, subject of the purchase order in 2012, were not delivered, thus the project was not implemented or accomplished.

"None of the officers or individuals summoned affirmed that the materials mentioned in the purchase order were delivered," he said.

"The officers have acted with manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross, inexcusable negligence in the performance of their official duties, causing undue injury to the local government of Himamaylan to the extent of P36,749.02," Almendares said.

Bascon, for his part, said he was the one who created an investigation committee to look into the alleged irregularities, and he could not have done so if he was part of the anomaly.

"Whatever the NBI says, my conscience is clear and I have no wrongdoings," Bascon said, adding that he was even "the victim here."

The mayor also said his "signatures were forged" in those anomalous transactions. "Whoever forged my signature will face the consequences."

Bascon said the NBI-6 complaint was politically motivated, spinned by his political rivals and detractors. "But that is okay. I'm David, they're Goliath. In the long run, David won," he said. — Danny B. Dangcalan

 Earlier, the NBI said it had investigated 61 alleged ghost projects involving the Himamaylan city government, which included the reported non-deliveries of various construction materials to different barangays, amounting to P4 to P6 million.  (FREEMAN)