Mayor sued for graft

CEBU, Philippines - For allegedly granting cash advances to various officials and employees of Madridejos despite outstanding and unliquidated cash advances, a taxpayer has sued Mayor Salvador dela Fuente and municipal treasurer before the anti-graft office.

Last week, Dr. Doroteo Salazar filed charges for violation of the anti-graft and corrupt practices act and the code of conduct and ethical standards for public officials and employees against Dela Fuente and Felixberta Pabualan.

Salazar said despite the unliquidated cash advances per report from the Commission on Audit in 2010, the said municipality granted another cash advance in violation of the law.

As proof, Salazar attached the COA report.  As of Dec. 31, 2010, Salazar said there was unliquidated cash advances amounting to P3,890,732.23. Out of P3,890,732.23, he said Dela Fuente had a cash advance of P1,550,000 covering the period from 2008 to 2010.

However, he added the unliquidated cash advances was increased in 2011 from P3,890,732.23 to P4,926,820.31 or an increased of P1,036,088.08.

He said despite COA’s recommendation to the town to stop granting cash advances to any official or employee, Dela Fuente allegedly ignored the advice.

Salazar cited that the unliquidated cash advances of Dela Fuente as of 2012 were increased to more than P4 million based on the information he gathered from the municipal treasurer.

He said the purchase of the office supplies and material for projects was done through splitting of requisition, a violation of the law in relation to public bidding.

Likewise, he said the purchase of construction materials was done without public bidding.

“The COA Audit Team noted that there is no record of delivery receipts, abstract of bids, plans and specifications, inspection and acceptance, documents that reveals no public bidding but manipulated purchases,” the complaint read.

Salazar also said dela Fuente owned a Buy and Sell business of marine products in Madridejos within the 20-meter easement zone.  He said there was a court order to remove the said structure but nothing was done.

Dela Fuente said the filing of complaint was motivated by political color. He said since election time is fast approaching the complaint was inevitable.

“The unliquidated cash advance in 2010 was already settled in fact there was already a COA report in 2011,” he said.

He also challenged Salazar to go to the municipal hall to check if he owns the business which he mentioned.  —BRP (FREEMAN)