2 mayors, acting Cooperative Development Authority chief charged with graft

MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman yesterday filed graft charges against two mayors and the acting chairman of the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) as well as a former vice mayor before the Sandiganbayan.

Deputy Special Prosecutor Jesus Micael said Mayor Ryan Tan of Naga, Zamboanga Sibugay was charged for allegedly disbursing P300,000 in government funds intended for the extension of the municipal health center to repair and renovate his office. 

He said Tan was also charged for allegedly converting for “his own personal use and benefit” the amount of P463,400 from June 2005 to January 2006.

For his part, Mayor Danilo Domingo of Malolos, Bulacan faces charges for failing to submit his Statement of Assets and Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) covering his properties and that of his wife and children in 2001 and 2002.

Former Malolos vice mayor Vicente Cruz is also facing the same charges for failing to submit his SALN in 2001 and 2002.

Micael said acting CDA chairman Ruben Conti was charged for allegedly giving unwarranted benefits and advantage to six cooperatives which received funds totaling P13.3 million.

He said Conti, along with other CDA officials, approved and released the financial grants without any authority from the budget department and any agreement between the CDA and the beneficiaries.

Ombudsman Ma. Merceditas Gutierrez, meanwhile, ordered the filing of murder charges against Mayor Ernesto Natividad of Gapan City, Nueva Ecija and 23 others for the 2006 killing of two brothers.

Also facing charges for the killing of Ericson and Ebertson Pascual are Dennis Matias, Lorenzo Rueda Jr., Crisanto Mateo, Dalia Cruz, Romeo Natividad, Ricardo Peralta, Randy Puno, Jovert Dumlao, and 15 John Does.