Contractor sues mayor, 8 officials of Madridejos

CEBU - The municipal mayor of Madridejos and eight other town officials including seven councilors were charged with graft and corruption for allegedly terminating an agreement with a private company building the town’s port facility under a Build Operate Transfer scheme.

Engineer Marcial Capitan, Jr., president of Madridejos Development Incorporated, filed his complaint yesterday before the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas against Mayor Salvador Dela Fuente.

Councilors Delfin Santillan, Isaias Bacolod, Bernabe Compra, Sr., Christy James Chavez, Randolf Rivera, Recline Asentista and Doroteo Dorimon and Sangguniang Bayan Secretary Roland Gidayawan were also named respondents.

Capitan accused them of violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

According to Capitan, Dela Fuente in connivance with the majority of the members of the municipal council and the secretary unilaterally cancelled their agreement for the port development project of the town.

Capitan said that in 1999 his company entered into a BOT agreement with the municipal government of Madridejos under the administration of then Mayor Doroteo Salazar, who is now the vice mayor, for the construction of Kaongkod Port Facilities.

Capitan said they have invested more than P17 million for the project, which was only partially completed because it was suspended during the administration of former mayor Letty Mancio.

However, Dela Fuente’s administration is far worse than his predecessor because he terminated the contract.

“This termination will cause financial injury to us by losing the millions of investment in the project and the effort, time and sacrifices in making this facility a reality through grave abuse of authority,” Capitan said in his complaint.

He added that it also inject fears to investors that is detrimental to the investment climate of the town.

Capitan described the termination of their BOT agreement as “politically motivated, grave abuse of authority and discretion amounting to lack of jurisdiction.” — Fred P. Laguido/NLQ (THE FREEMAN)