Danao mayor sues VM for usurpation

CEBU, Philippines - The mayor of Danao City, Cebu, has filed a complaint before Danao City Prosecutor’s Office against his vice mayor.

Ramon “Boy” Durano Jr., assisted by his lawyer Gloria Dalawampu filed 111 counts of usurpation of authority of official functions concerning disbursement vouchers of the Danao City government amounting to P6,213,063.13 covering the period from July 16, 2010 to September 28, 2010 against his younger brother Vice Mayor Ramon “Nito” Durano III.

Mayor Durano likewise filed 91 counts of usurpation of official functions concerning checks of the Danao City government amounting to P2,423,009 covering the period from July 16, 2010 to September 20, 2010 against the vice mayor.

Mayor Durano said he issued a memorandum dated July 5, 2010 to Vice Mayor Durano granting the authority to sign official documents for the operation of the city government in his absence.

However, he said without his knowledge and authority, the vice mayor approved 111 Danao City disbursement vouchers chargeable against the general fund of the city by signing over the printed name of the mayor

“Under the pretense that his signature was my signature, respondent Vice Mayor Nito Durano III made representations that are false, fully knowing them to be false, thus it has sufficiently established his culpability for the crime of Usurpation of Official Functions,” complaint affidavit reads.

Mayor Durano cited jurisprudence Article 177, Paragraph 2 of the Revised Penal Code provides that “Usurpation of Official Functions” is committed by performing any act pertaining to any person in authority or public officer of the Philippine Government or any agency thereof, under pretense of official position, and without being lawfully entitled to do so

He also hoped for immediate investigation and that the resolution will be forwarded to the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman Visayas so the appropriate information will be filed before the Sandiganbayan against the vice mayor.

Vice Mayor Durano was not available for comment yesterday.  (FREEMAN)