Iloilo land donor raps Monfort

Another congressman is facing investigation by the House ethics committee for alleged misconduct.

Rep. Narciso Monfort (Lakas, Iloilo) has been accused in a sworn complaint by Iloilo City resident Edgardo Dolar of allegedly having misused a 4.6-hectare property the complainant had donated to the government in Barangay Lublub, Dumangas town.

In his complaint, Dolar said Monfort, who had sought the donation, violated the conditions in the deed of donation by naming the property as P.D. Monfort Plaza.

He said the congressman also named the police detachment established on the property as Camp Narciso Monfort.

Because the conditions in the deed of donation were violated, Dolar and his family went to court to reclaim the property, whose title was still in their name because officials of Barangay Lublub and Dumangas failed to work for its transfer to the government.

However, despite the fact that the case was still pending in court, Monfort allegedly worked for the release of funds from the Department of Tourism and the Department of Public Works and Highways for the development of what is now designated as P.D. Monfort Plaza, the complainant said.

"I am the aggrieved party here. If I can wait for the decision of the court on the case, much is expected of Rep. Monfort, who is a legislator and should respect the law," he said.

Reporters sought the Iloilo solon for comment, but he was attending the regular session of the Commission on Appointments of which he is a member.

The ethics committee, chaired by Rep. Antonio Abaya (Lakas, Isabela), now has several cases before it.

Last Tuesday, it opened its inquiry into a group of congressmen known as the "Gang of 5" accused of engaging in extortion activities.

Members of the group have denied the accusations against them.