‘No irregularity in move to buy Talisay property’

CEBU, Philippines – Talisay City Councilor Valeriano Ylanan denied there was conflict of interest and irregularity involved in him sponsoring a resolution seeking to purchase a property that allegedly belongs to him.

The lot will be used as multi-purpose covered court and venue for recreational activities in Barangay Linao.

Ylanan, a former barangay councilman in Linao, sponsored the resolution asking his colleagues to approve the purchase of the property owned by a certain Alfred Kiamco with the total area of 1,000 square meters.

Prior to the approval of the resolution, City Councilor Doroteo Emit asked Ylanan if the property was the same property Ylanan is occupying.

"I would like to clarify from Honorable Ylanan kung kini ba'ng lote nga ato paliton ug bayran sa siyudad, mao ba ni ang lot nga iyang giabangan ug gipuy-an karon?" Emit asked.

Emit added the city should only purchase the property if there are existing available funds in the city's coffers.

For his part, Ylanan admitted that he has leased out the 1,000-square meter property for his junk shop business. He said there was an existing contract with the owner and that it will expire next year.

Ylanan said there is no conflict of interest because he does not own the property in the first place. Also, he said it will be the city government that will purchase the lot for Barangay Linao.

"Yes, it's true that I leased out the lot pero akong i-clarify that dili na akoa unya ang mopalit ang gobiyerno aron gamiton sa Barangay Linao. My contract will expire next year, unya dili nako mo-renew," Ylanan added.

Vice Mayor Romeo Villarante, council presiding officer, said there is no conflict of interest in the proposed transaction even if Ylanan sponsored the resolution.

Villarante, a lawyer by profession, said it will be the barangay that will use the property and not the councilor who will benefit from the purchase.

It can be recalled in the last council session that Villarante and Emit had heated verbal exchange after the councilor accused the presiding officer of having allegedly influenced the city's appraisal committee to increase the value of the lot's purchase price from P2,000 to P4,000 per square meter.

Emit opposed the payment of P4 million, accusing Villarante of dictating Alma Abellanosa, head of the city appraisal, to increase the amount.

But in last Tuesday's session, the council approved the resolution of Ylanan authorizing Mayor Johnny De los Reyes to purchase the lot in Barangay Linao for the proposed multi-purpose covered court striking out the amount of the resolution pending the reassessment of the property.

Linao Barangay Captain Ofelia Ylanan, wife of Councilor Valeriano, already negotiated with Kiamco to purchase his lot.

Ofelia said the barangay needs to purchase the land for the construction of a proposed covered court that will be used venue for sports and cultural shows.