Acting Ombudsman Orlando C. Casimiro ordered the filing of criminal charges against an incumbent mayor, four former mayors and four others before the Sandiganbayan for various offenses.
In separate Resolutions, Acting Ombudsman Casimiro ordered the filing of charges for Violation of Sec. 3(e) of RA 3019 (Anti-graft and Corrupt Practices Act) against Mayor Delfin Ting of Tuguegarao City.
Charges for violation of RA 3019 were also ordered filed against former Lucena City Mayor Ramon Talaga, Jr., Zoning Administrator Peter Palamiano, and Managing Head, Bingo Dept., PAGCOR, Marizmelda Dugayo. Meanwhile, an information for Violation of Sec. 52 (g) in relation to Sec. 6 9b) of RA 8291 (The Government Service Insurance System Act of 1997) was ordered filed against former Mayor Antonio Talaue, Municipal Treasurer Efren Guiyab and Municipal Accountant Florante Galasinao, all of Sto. Tomas, Isabela. On the other hand, former Calauag Mayor Eric Entienza was ordered charged with violating Article 171, of the Revised Penal Code (Falsification of Public Document). Finally, an information for violation of Article 237 of the RPC, (Prolonging Performance of Duties and Powers) was ordered filed against former Mayor Jorge Bernardo of Morong, Rizal before the Sandiganbayan.
The complaint against Ting stemmed from the unlawful demolition of the Tuguegarao City Central Public Market, “even though what he was only authorized to do under Resolution No. 053-2008, the resolution approving CDC (City Development Council) No. 04-2008, was to upgrade” the facility.
The complainant said this caused undue injury to the government and the public because the cost of demolished portion is only more than P16M while the book value of the property before its demolition is almost P24M.
Talaga, Palamiano and Dugayo were ordered charged for having allowed BCQ Enterprises to operate traditional bingo games despite the fact that it did not have the necessary Mayor’s Business Permit and despite BCQ being delinquent in the payment of business and tax dues. Likewise, the accused were found to have issued a belated Mayor’s permit to BCQ ignoring the fact that it violated the regulation that no such establishment should be operating within 200 meters of any school or church.
Records showed that from January 1, 2005 to Sept. 28, 2005 or for nine months, BCQ has been operating Bingo games without the necessary Mayor’s Business Permit “yet, the respondents PAGCOR officials did not suspend/cancel BCQ’s GOA (Grant of Authority)”.BCQ was later issued a Mayor’s permit on Sept. 29, 2005 even though it “is located within the prohibited 200 meter radius from educational and religious institution” in violation of Sec. 29 of the Codified Ordinance of Lucena City.
On the other hand, GSIS filed a complaint against Talaue, Guiyab and Galasinao for failure, depite repeated demands, to pay, remit and deliver the GSIS compulsory premium arrearages, for the years 1997 to 2004, in the aggregate amount of more than P22M as of July 2004.
In another case, Entienza was charged with Falsification for issuing a certification dated 11 February 2009 certifying that Annaliza de Torres Prudente, his former live-in partner, was employed as a Property Custodian of the Municipality of Calauag from 15 Aug. 2008 up to the issuance of certification, when Prudente has never been employed in the said municipality. The certification was issued as supporting document of Prudente’s visa application.
Bernardo was charged with Violation of Art 237 of the RPC for continuing to sign/approve disbursement vouchers releasing government funds in his capacity as Local Chief Executive from 20 April 2004 to 24 May 2004 totaling more than P5.4M despite his assumption as Member of the Commission on Settlement of Land Problems (COSLAP) effective 19 April 2004.Upon the assumption of duties with COSLAP, Bernardo no longer had the authority to act on these official documents. ATTY. MARY RAWNSLE V. LOPEZ, Office of the Overall Deputy Ombudsman/Acting Ombudsman
