MANILA, Philippines - For illegally buying a parcel of swampland to be used for various infrastructure projects in 2005, the Office of the Ombudsman indicted a former Quezon town mayor.
In an 11-page order, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales affirmed the filing of graft charges before the Sandiganbayan against former Polillo Mayor Isarme Bosque.
Aside from Bosque, municipal treasurer Carmelita Marasigan, and municipal assessor Samson Ayapana are also facing criminal charges.
Records showed that Bosque entered into a deed of sale without authority from the Sangguniang Bayan for the purchase of 3.3 hectares of land in Barangay Libjo.
There was no feasibility study conducted on the suitability of the project site nor an ocular inspection done prior to acquisition of the lot with an assessed value of P24,870. It was bought for P411,000.
The Sangguniang Bayan enacted Appropriation Ordinance, providing for a supplemental budget of P500,000 for capital outlay to cover the purchase of a lot to be used for low-cost housing, municipal cemetery and a municipal dumpsite.
However, the Inspection Report by the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office of Real, Quezon said that out of the 3.3 hectares, only a hectare may be used for low-cost housing and the rest may only be used for fish pond or as an agricultural plantation.
A certification issued by the Deputy Zoning Administrator also showed that based on the existing zoning ordinance, the purchased lot is within the agricultural, forest/shore easement zone of the municipality.