Leyte mayor faces another graft case

BAYBAY CITY, Leyte, Philippines – The mayor of this city, Carmen Cari, is facing another graft case before the Office of the Ombudsman.

In a complaint-affidavit, Virginia Du-maguing, a resident of Magsaysay Avenue in Zone 2 Baybay City, claimed that Cari started a P140-million reclamation project despite the absence of an environment compliance certificate and reclamation permit from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

“Mayor Cari has willfully caused undue injury not only to the government, but more importantly to the residents of Baybay City, who have been unnecessarily exposed to environmental risks that the reclamation project may cause,” Dumaguing said in her affidavit.

It was only two weeks ago when a graft case was filed against Cari for the purchase of office supplies and medicines amounting to P7,391,009.31 without public bidding.

Cari said she is ready to face her accusers in court.