On Ligas’ complaints filed before ombud: Harassment suits - Lolypop

CEBU, Philippines — With the election season fast approaching, Mandaue City lone district Representative Emmarie “Lolypop” Ouano-Dizon yesterday said “harassment” suits should be expected.

This is her reaction to the complaints radio broadcaster Edward Ligas filed yesterday against her and her husband, Opao Barangay Captain Nixon “Jojo” Ting Dizon, before the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas.

The multiple complaints that Ligas filed against the couple are for the violation of Section 1(d) para. 2,3, and 4 of Republic Act NO.7080 otherwise known as an Act Defining and Penalizing the Crime of Plunder; Violation of Section 4(a) and 3(h) of RA 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act; Violation of Article 171 of the Revised Penal Code for Falsification of Public Documents; and nine counts of Falsification of Statement of Assets Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) from year 1997-2005.

Ligas said he filed the complaints against Ouano-Dizon and her husband because of them acquiring 2,500 square-meter parcel of land in December 16, 1992 that allegedly was part of 186 hectares owned by the Mandaue City government under a reclamation contract May 28 of the same year.

In a 20-page complaint, the broadcaster asked the Ombudsman to prosecute the couple for “questionable” acquisition of the lot under the Deed of Absolute Sale, allegedly slashed from the entire reclamation area.

He alleged that on March 1, 1993, three months after the couple allegedly purchased the lot, the Original Certificate of Title no. 0-845 was issued for Mandaue City for the entire property with annotation that the whole lot was still under a reclamation contract.

Ligas also accused Ouano-Dizon of violating Sections 4(a) and 3(h) of Republic Act 3019 for taking advantage of her personal relation with former Mayor Alfredo “Pedong” Ouano, her grandfather and direct supervisor, by acquiring a parcel land from the area.

Further, he also accused the Dizon couple of violating Article 171 of the Revised Penal Code, by “conniving to produce falsified documents” to support their acquisition of a portion of the city-owned reclamation area.

“Ang Deed of Absolute Sale questionable kaayo. Tthere was no description sa property asa dapit. Ikaduha, there was no consideration,” Ligas told the reporters.

He also questioned the price of the acquired lots. HE said that on the 1992 Deed of Absolute Sale between Mandaue Realty & Resources Corporation (MARRECO), represented by president Felipe F. Cruz, and Jojo and Lolypop, the acquisition cost of the 2,500 sq. m. lot was P2.5 million.

Ligas said that in the annotation entered into the title TCT No. 50817 on November 9, 2005, the amount of purchase for the same lot was only P2 million.

In addition, Ligas said Lolypop did not declare the property in her SALN from year 1997 until 2005.

Ligas clarified that filing a complaint against the couple is not politically motivated and that he is doing it as a concerned taxpayer.

“Gusto nako nga mabawi ang maong property. Ikaduha, dili ta mo-tolerate og klarong pangawat ba. Klaro man na nga ilang puhunan laway ra, laway ug pangilad,” said Ligas.

“I consulted a legal luminary kabahin niining kasoha, aside from a lawyer. Prescription runs right after the discovery of the commission of the crime. Kining maong krimen ako pang nadiskubrehan kaniadtong pang 2016, dugay nato ning gi research ang pipila ka mga doeumento wala pa siya mo-prescribe,” he added.

He said that although there are no politicians backing him in filing the complaints, he claimed that he made his timing to file the case as the filing of Certificate of Candidacy is approaching.

“Ako gyung gi-timing. Honestly, ako gyung gi-timing… Usually gud kung mu-file kag election time muingon dayon ang mga politiko, major reaction ba nga, ‘Ah this is politically motivated’. Mao nay kasagarang tubag. Pero, I don’t give a damn. Ang akoa diri, whether tinuod ba na nangilad o nangawat ang magtiayong Ouano,” Ligas said.

He likewise said that since he filed the complaints before the Ombudsman, he hoped that suspension of the congresswoman and the barangay captain will follow.

“Ma-suspend sila, kung makagawas og warrant ang kasong plunder wala na siyay piyansa,” said Ligas.

Ligas, a known supporter of suspended Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes, insisted that there is no political motivation behind the filing of the complaints.

“Walay labot si Mayor Jonas ani, akoa ra gyud ning kabubut-on nga mo-file ko og complaint and as a taxpayer,” he said.

To recall, Cortes was suspended for one year by the Ombudsman for illegal appointment of the former head of the City Social Welfare Office, and there were allegations that it was Ouano-Dizon who behind Cortes’ suspension.

Asked if the complaints he filed is was a retaliation for Cortes, Ligas said it is not.

“Dili ni bawos-bawos ha. Dugay nako nakahunahuna og file sa complaint, dili lang gyud mahinayon tungod sa akong ka-busy. Unya karon naka-decide ko nga i-file na gyud kay moadto pa og Korea on Wednesday. Akoa gyud ning gi-timing ang pag-file one week before the filing of certificate of candidacy,” Ligas said.

On the other hand, when asked about her comment on the complaints, Ouano-Dizon told The Freeman in a text message that she is confident that all of them would be dismissed.

“Pero confident kaayo ko that when our explanation and evidence are heard, these charges will be dismissed. For one, more than 30 years ago pa intawon ang sale sa yuta, wala pa gani ko sa serbisyo atong panahona. Karon pa kunohay nahimong sala diay. Ambot kanus-a nahimong plunder ang sale of P2M, unless the purpose of the baseless charge is to malign our family,” said the congresswoman.

Ouano-Dizon said that she cannot comment on the details yet as she only knew the filing of complaints from the media reports and they have not yet received their copy.

“Lawyers will tell you nga kaning ilang IMAGINED nga illegality ni-prescribe na, o nalapas na sa 20 years nga gilatid sa balaod, and therefore can no longer be prosecuted,” she said.

The congresswoman also said that Ligas’ concern about her SALN was already raised in a related case in the past that was already dismissed.

“WE HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING WRONG or illegal. The truth is on our side…Basta ting election na, we expect these types of harassment suit,” she said. (FREEMAN)