Graft raps vs Tagaytay mayor dismissed

MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman, for lack of probabale cause, has dismissed a graft case against Tagaytay Mayor Abraham Tolentino who was accused of involvement in the alleged overpriced construction of a city college.

The anti-graft agency, through the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon, also junked the charges lodged against City Engineer Leonardo Olegario, Assistant City Engineer Noel Baybay, City Accountant Rosemarie Lerio, and private respondent Jesusito Legaspi of J.D. Legaspi Construction.

“We hold that the respondents did not commit any infraction of the norms set forth by Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards of Public Officials,” the Resolution dismissing the case against Tolentino and his fellow respondents said.

Records show that six complainants led by one Arnel Taruc filed the graft case against the local chief executive and other city officials after the city government approved the payment of P23 million to the private construction firm for completing the Phase 2 construction of the City College of Tagaytay.

However, the Office of the Ombudsman said the complainants failed to present materials and relevant evidence to support their allegations.

Tolentino, who is running for re-election, said accusations hurled against him were mere political attacks meant to discredit his reputation and the accomplishments of his administration.

“The construction of the City College of Tagaytay was divided into phases and that the completion certified by this Office involved the initial building stages,” he said.

The Office of the Ombudsman, after conducting a probe, said Tolentino was able to prove that there was neither an act of fraud or malversation of public funds in the issuance of payments for completed phases of the project.