Malabon exec, 3 others charged before Ombudsman

MANILA, Philippines - The Malabon City administrator and his alleged accomplices were charged before the Office of the Ombudsman Wednesday by a businesswoman for reportedly duping her into investing P16.5 million in a nonexistent joint venture project.

Myrna Ojeda Tan, 36, accused Malabon city administrator Benjamin Villacorta, city hall employees Marlon Marquina, Evangeline Arenga, Rafael Jose and Annabelle Caparas of allegedly facilitating the award of the contract to provide P49.9 million medical supplies to the Malabon City government.

Tan said the project did not push through when her friend, Michael Buquid Jr., manager of 20th Pharma Trade, the firm that was supposed to supply the equipment, was murdered on July 20 and the “persons” they dealt with – including Villacorta – denied the existence of the project.

Tan also filed charges of allegedly conspiring to commit estafa through falsification of public documents against the four city hall employees and Buquid’s associates, Sebastiana Dadia and Consolita Tutanes, before the Valenzuela prosecutor’s office.

Tan said it was Buquid, Dadia and Tutanes, her family friends, who convinced her to invest in the joint venture.

Villacorta welcomed an investigation of the allegations. He denied knowing Buquid and said Marquina is a former city hall employee.

Buquid was shot dead by two motorcycle-riding men at noon on July 20 in front of a restaurant in Malabon City. He was driving a black Toyota Vios (XRD-337) registered to Edna Perlas of Valenzuela City.

Buquid’s case is now being handled by the National Bureau of Investigation.