PLUNDER and administrative complaints have been filed before the Office of the Ombudsman against incumbent Biñan (Laguna) Mayor Marlyn ‘Len’ Alonte-Naguiat and Vice Mayor Walfredo Reyes Dimaguila, Jr. in connection with the alleged 2009 anomalous acquisition of a land which ‘raided’ the local city coffers of almost P77-million.
In a complaint-affidavit, businesswoman Adelaida Yatco, a resident of Filinvest South, Barangay Tubigan, also in the city, accompanied by her counsel, lawyer Howard Calleja, is also asking the anti-graft office to suspend preventively the two incumbent Biñan officials, both members of the ruling Liberal Party, pending investigation.
“Without a doubt, respondents should be preventively suspended considering that the evidence of their guilt is strong and the charges against them involve grave offenses warranting their removal from service and that their continued stay in the positions would surely prejudice the instant case against them since they’re both influential elective public officials in the local government,” she says.
She adds: “I have strong faith in the Ombudsman that in spite of the fact that they belong to the administration party, there will be no whitewash in the case.”
According to Calleja, his client is charging Alonte-Naguiat and Dimaguila with violations under Republic Act No. 7080 for plunder; R.A. 3019 otherwise known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act; and R.A. 6713 (An Act Establishing a Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees).
Both elected into office in 2007, Alonte-Naguiat, however, was ‘out of office’ as Dimaguila was the ‘acting mayor’ when the alleged June 2009 irregular purchase of the property, owned by Emmanuel and Alita Capinpin and co-owned by Fe Alonte, Mayor Len’s mother and was used for the expansion of the municipal cemetery, was made.
In entering into a sale of a land which had a fair market value of only P21,468,240, respondents, acting in conspiracy, the respondents entered into a contract of sale that’s grossly disadvantageous to the government when it paid the Capinpins P98,396,100 covering an area of only 29,817 sqm. in Bgy. San Antonio, resulting to a difference of P76,927,860 which is unexplained, the complainant alleges.
“This grossly disadvantageous contract of sale that was entered into by the respondents and the sellers was for no other reason than to get kick-backs and profit from such transaction.
“Moreover, such overvaluation of the subject land became all the more pronounced if taken in light of the fair market value of said property before it was partitioned which was P30,142,080.00 representing an area of 41,864 sqm.,” she says.
The complaint further says that the respondents, in having committed the criminal acts, should also be made accountable administratively and be charged with the commission of Grave Misconduct, Dishonesty and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service in connection with their illegal, criminal acts in which the anti-graft office should impose upon them the maximum penalty of dismissal from government service, including all its accessory penalties. GOOD RIDDANCE/ARLIE CALALO
