Abellanosa faces raps over scholars

CEBU, Philippines -  Citing it’s a conflict of interest sending Cebu City scholars to the Asian College of Technology (ACT), a concerned citizen filed a criminal complaint for graft against Cebu City Councilor Rodrigo “Bebot” Abellanosa.

Abellanosa sees politics in this recent development, calling it a mere political grandstanding on the part of his opponent, Aristotle Batuhan.

In his four-page complaint, Phillip Banguiran of Barangay Inayawan, Cebu City said he learned of the educational assistance program of the City Government only recently because he arrived from abroad only last year. He stressed that his filing has nothing to do with politics.

“I am not running for any position in the government. This is my own will,” he said in Cebuano, adding that he is not affiliated with any group.

Banguiran cited that the scholarship program of the City was created through Resolution No. 12-3355-2011 authorizing Mayor Michael Rama to sign an agreement with the Department of Education and the Asian College of Technology International Educational Foundation (ACTIEF) Incorporated represented by Abellanosa, its president.

He said the allocation for the scholarship program is not less than P100 million a year, with each scholar receiving P10,000 per semester for tuition and an additional P1,000 allowance per month for scholars from the mountain barangays.

Banguiran said he learned of the tax reprieve for ACT by virtue of an agreement dated November 18, 2010 authorized by the Council.

“Such actions effectively deprived the Cebu City Government and its constituents of the taxes due from the said private entity and clearly favor ACT over other taxpayers who were similarly situated,” the complaint reads.

He said being the president of the ACT and a member of the City Council, there is a conflict of interest on the part of Abellanosa.

Banguiran wants this to be stopped.

Lawyer Edmund Lao said Abellanosa violated the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act as “there was a direct or indirect benefit for him in connection with any contract or transaction between the government and any other party, wherein the public officer in his official capacity has to intervene under the law.”

Meanwhile, the National Union of Students of the Philippines- Cebu and the College Editors Guild of the Philippines –Cebu are one with the Cebu City scholars and Cebu students in pushing for a review of the Cebu City Scholarship Program.

“As an issue that affects the students, we stand firm on our position to expose any unrighteous acts and likewise call for opposition against these,” said Alya Alya Simone I. Mongaya, CEGP deputy secretary-general for Visayas.

Mongaya said that NUSP and CEGP have nothing personal against Abellanosa and this issue was taken up in the interest of student rights and welfare.

She said students have the right to know the truth about the program that the councilor now calls “Scholar ni Bebot.” She considers it surprising that Abellanosa, a congressional aspirant, should resort to attacking CEGP and NUSP instead of answering the issues raised with proof and evidence.

But Abellanosa insists the complaint is a desperate act of his opponent. He suspects Batuhan as behind this.

“Wala ko kadungog aning tawhana nga nangimbitar pa gyud og media pag-file niya. Meaning, it was merely a political grandstand, probably as a diversion. Kabalo naman mo sa kadaghang issue nga giatubang karon sa administrasyon,” Abellanosa said. (I never heard of this person, who even invited media to cover his filing. You know the many issues the administration is facing right now.)

He challenged Batuhan to file the complaint himself rather than hide behind other people.

Batuhan, however, denied any part in the filing of the complaint, which, if legitimate, he said Abellanosa must answer.

Abellanosa stressed he has not caused disadvantage to anybody. In fact, he added, he gained nothing from the scholarship program because he gives a counterpart for scholars who cannot afford to pay the balance.

The city scholarship grants P10,000 scholarship to each scholar. The rest of the cost of the tuition fee shall be shouldered by the parents or the students.

Abellanosa provided the counterpart to help those who cannot afford to pay the balance. He used to give a minimum grant of P5,000 but in the spirit of Christmas, he announced yesterday he will provide P10,000 scholarship applicable this semester.

The councilor added that he abstains from whatever resolution in the council that involves his school.

But Batuhan said abstention is not enough. For him, Abellanosa should not have involved himself in the scholarship committee because this sets a bad example to businessmen who might think of joining politics if they can see that it is easy to use power for personal gain.  (FREEMAN)