Bolo misled colleagues over Balili lot purchase?

CEBU, Philippines - Some members of the Cebu Provincial Board who were charged in connection with the controversial purchase of the Balili property by the provincial government claimed they were misled by their colleague, former PB Member Juan Bolo.

Those PB members charged with gross negligence before the Office of the Ombudsman yesterday finalized their counter-affidavit to be submitted on Thursday.

Former Board Member Victor Maambong said if they committed mistake, they already remedied it during the investigation conducted by the PB adhoc committee.

During investigation, Maambong pointed out that Bolo, being the chairman of the PB Committee on Properties, never mentioned to the body that “there is a very big fish pond in the middle of this property.”

Bolo’s committee is tasked to “study, investigate or recommend on all matters relating to the management, administration, acquisition and disposition or encumbrance of all properties of the Province and all the municipalities of Cebu.”

In the transcript, Bolo just answered, “Well, that is not my duty – that is the duty of the Appraisal Committee. My duty is just to verify whether the property has encumbrances – that’s my role, not to find out.”

Acting Vice Governor Agnes Magpale confirmed they saw the two very important documents, the title and the appraisal committee report.

Maambong said they do not have any reason to doubt Bolo’s capacity as senior member of PB and a veteran lawmaker and a lawyer.

Maambong said Bolo is just so evasive even during the investigation.

He asked Bolo that as trustee of the people with fiduciary duties, he was supposed to communicate with his colleagues so that they will be forewarned.

But Bolo said he was expecting that he will be asked of something during the discussion of the resolution he sponsored authorizing Governor Gwendolyn Garcia to enter into the transaction.

Maambong contended that they cannot ask of something which they have not seen in paper which Bolo said inquisitive mind would ask about that thing if they want to ask.

Bolo stated that his role is just to verify the title – whether there was incumbrance, whether it is faked and if it is titled, they need not go beyond.

“Once the property is titled, well it’s enough that it is clean. So, I thought that you, as a lawyer also, would know that,” Bolo told Maambong during investigation.

Bolo already submitted his counter-affidavit before the Holy Week but Maambong said they never read what he has stated there.

Bolo and nine others will be charged separately for allegedly “conspiring and confederating with each other in the purchase of a land which is classified as timberland”. – (FREEMAN)