Speedy probe into Balili lot mess sought

CEBU, Philippines - Different cause-oriented groups yesterday gathered in front of the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas and submitted a manifesto asking for a speedy investigation into the controversial Balili property.

At the Capitol, Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez, Jr. has asked the members of the Provincial Board to release the results of their investigation into the issue to see if there are indeed irregularities in the deal.

However, the committees tasked to conduct the investigation admitted that they cannot fast tract the release of the findings because they need more inputs from their members.

In a picket rally in front of the Ombudsman’s office, anti-graft crusaders said issue has long been overdue and has remained not acted upon for eight months now.

Grace Jakosalem of the Good vs. Evil Brigade, who was among of the 180 people who signed the manifesto, said that they are hoping the Ombudsman will make a resolution especially before elections, which may bring forth more problems.

Jakosalem pointed out that they do not understand why it takes so long for the Ombudsman to serve a resolution but they are hoping that there are no delaying tactics being made in favor of the officials involved in the case.

In their manifesto, the groups pointed out that the Ombudsman and his deputies “are the protectors of the people and are mandated under the constitution to act promptly on complaints filed against officers or employees of the government.”

They stated that the anti-graft office can conduct investigation based on newspaper reports or anonymous letters, and saying that their investigation will follow only after the investigating bodies have made their own resolutions and recommendations runs, counter to the objectives of the office and the mandate of the constitution in which it operates.

In response, assistant Ombudsman for Visayas, Virginia Santiago, said that they hope the people would also understand that the Balili case is not the only issue that they are looking in to.

She said that with complaints coming from Regions 6, 7 and 8, and with only few fact finding operators, it is not an easy job.

Santiago said that the Balili case is even quite new from the other cases that they have in hand which needs to be looked at as well.

But rest assured, Santiago said, that they are looking into the matter and in fact they are waiting for important information that is vital to the case. She said that they could not divulge it to the public yet but it would be of big help in the fast solution of the matter.

But the groups that joined the picket said that the Balili issue is not even just the case that they are fighting for since there are still a lot of cases that have been submitted years ago like the lamp post controversy which involved millions of pesos.

Jakosalem, together with environmentalists, Akbayan, Nadsu, Panaghugpong Kadamay, “Yellow Armies” and the business sector of Mactan pointed out that issues have been overlapping due to the delay an the slow process of investigation.

Businessman and anti-graft crusader, Efrain “Jun” Pelaez, who headed the Kalihokan sa Katawhan alang sa Kalambuan, said that they decided to join in and sign the memorandum because there are a lot of corruption cases in Lapu-Lapu City that are yet to be formally investigated.

Aside from the lamppost controversy, Pelaez said that there are more than 30 cases particularly of graft and corruption that they have submitted years ago but have not been given due attention by the Ombudsman.

During the PB session yesterday, PB member Joven Mondigo said they could not yet give their findings of their investigation into the Balili lot issue because they are waiting for the submission of more outputs by their members.

Mondigo said that although his committee and the committee of PB member Alfred Francis Ouano have already prepared a draft, they still need to consult all members of the provincial board.

Sanchez has asked Mondigo if they have time frame in completing their report because of the request made by the Office of the Visayas Ombudsman.

Mondigo replied that he cannot make an assurance that they could submit it soon but said he will make a report to the anti-graft office.

The ad hoc committee is also still consolidating its reports on the matter that would be submitted to Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

The provincial government purchase of the P98.9-million Balili property in Tinaan, Naga became controversial when it was found that part of the property was submerged in water or covered with mangroves, although the province received clean titles for it. —AJ de la Torre and Jose P. Sollano/WAB