Baguio's 'overpriced' Christmas tree prompts corruption raps

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – Baguio’s alleged “overpriced” Christmas tree on top of Session Road has prompted a mayoralty bet to file raps versus sitting Mayor Mauricio Domogan before the Ombudsman.

Imploring God though to forgive his opponent and usual critic Peter Puzon,  Domogan dismissed such accusations as untrue, malicious and merely done to harass him.

Puzon, who has filed several complaints versus Domogan in the past is asking the Ombudsman to suspend the mayor and “save the 20-foot man-made tree” as an evidence before it is torn down to erase evidence.

Puzon detailed in his complaint the mayor's declaration of using P600,000 to build the Christmas tree and questioned the overpricing of green plastic netting, steel pipes and artificial wreath cord, which he himself canvassed to find out the truth on his allegations.

An Ombudsman’s investigation for alleged violations of the Anti-graft and Corrupt Practices Act must be conducted, Puzon said to ferret out the truth on the misuse of public funds.

Domogan is also facing another Ombudsman complaint by a trade fair organizer, one of the mayor’s most recent raps after two other complaints were also filed by an anti-corruption group in the city over a gambling joint which the mayor reportedly allowed. 

The mayor is also facing another Ombudsman complaint over the overpriced Environmental Recycling Facility at the Irisan dumpsite.

In response, Domogan dismissed Puzon’s allegations and emphasized he only signed the final papers after a bidder won over the project.

The mayor also declared the Christmas tree’s cost was also reduced to P520,000 and such also included other decorations in the Central Business District, while challenging critics to look at official documents to prove their accusations.

But Puzon said officials at City Hall claim they don’t have documents for him in relation to the project when he sought them.