Malacañang asks Abellanosa to answer charges

CEBU, Philippines - The Office of the President has ordered Cebu City south district Councilor Rodrigo “Bebot” Abellanosa to submit his verified answer to the administrative charges filed by congressional candidate Aristotle “Totol” Batuhan for alleged grave misconduct and grave abuse of authority.

Undersecretary Ronald Geron of the Discipline Office of Malacañang, in his order dated January 31, 2013, told Abellanosa that no motion to dismiss shall be filed within 15 days from receipt.

Geron also ordered Batuhan to pay the filing fee of P1,500 to the Cashier of the President within 15 days from receipt of the order otherwise the complaint will be dismissed.

Batuhan filed the complaint against Abellanosa, his opponent in the congressional race, last January 10, 2013.

“At least it’s moving,” said Batuhan at the 888 News Forum at Marco Polo Plaza yesterday.

Also yesterday, Batuhan sent a letter complaint asking the Commission on Audit to conduct a special audit of the Cebu City College Scholarship Program alleging that it is implemented in a “highly irregular manner and grossly and manifestly disadvantageous to the government.”

He is also requesting COA to go over the rules of the city’s scholarship program particularly in the accreditation of eligible institution where scholars can enroll.

“The Commission on Audit should look into whether the facilities of a particular school can accommodate this number of enrollees in a particular school,” Batuhan said.

Batuhan alleged that Abellanosa violated the law when his school, Asian College of Technology, benefited from the city’s scholarship program.

Batuhan claimed that Abellanosa committed “grave misconduct prejudicial to the service, grave abuse of authority and patent dishonesty” when he allowed his school to be among the beneficiaries of the city’s scholarship program.

In his letter to COA Chairman Ma. Gracia Pulido-Tan dated February 4, 2013, Batuhan pointed out that at the rate of P10,000 per scholar, ACT shall have earned P156.58 million from the City of Cebu for one semester’s worth of schooling alone.

Coincidentally, Batuhan said that Abellanosa is a member of the City Scholarship Committee of the City Council of Cebu.

“Grabe gyud ka garapal ang pamaagi niining scholarship program nga nahitabo,” Batuhan said.

Batuhan is hoping the cases now pending with the Office of the President and the Office of the Ombudsman will be moving and that these will not stop by the time elections take place in May 2013.

Batuhan is eyeing more tax payers’ suit to ensure that the city stops the payment to ACT but he also wants to make sure the city has also the responsibility of accommodating the scholars that are currently in this school.

He is also contemplating on filing tax evasion case against ACT now that it is owned by a foundation from being originally a non-stock, non-profit corporation.

Abellanosa said that he has not received the order yet, but he said once he will receive it, he will file a perjury case.

“Wala pa man koy nadawat, I cannot make any comment yet. How I wish nga naa na. As soon as I’ll have it, I will let you know,” said Abellanosa to the members of the media in a conference call.

Abellanosa added that Batuhan is just using the media so that the latter will be talked about. Batuhan’s camp said that there will still be a lot of bombshells to explode.

“He wants to use the media para mahisgutan siya. Maypa iya (referring to Batuhan) na lang akong tagaan ug kopya daan. Sa panahon ni Cuenco mau gihapon na iyang style,” Abellanosa said.

However, Abellanosa is firm that once he will receive the Order, he will be filing a perjury case as he believes that many of Batuhan’s statements were not true.

Abellanosa also said that the said move has been agreed along with his lawyers. – (FREEMAN)