Negros execs 6-taon kulong sa loan deal scam

BACOLOD CITY – Hinatulan ng anim hanggang siyam taon pagkakakulong at perpetual disqualification ang kasalukuyan at dating mga opisyal ng Canlaon City, Neg-ros Oriental makaraan ma-patunayan ng Office of the Ombudsman na nameke ng dalawang deals noong Dis-yembre 2005.

Hinatulan sa salang paglabag sa Section 3(g) ng Republic Act 3019 o Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act sina Mayor Jimmy Clerigo, City Treasurer Luisa Luza, incumbent Sangguniang Panglungsod (SP) members Diego Santiago, Jose Chubasco Cardenas, Aldin Avila at Mamerto Bermil, Jr., ex-Mayor Judith Cardenas (2 counts), at mga dating konsehal na sina Edgar Estampador, Roberto Bolo, Amado Delos Reyes, Pedro Montero at Wagner Bekim Cardenas.

Nag-ugat ang kaso sa pagbibigay-pahintulot ni Mayor Clerigo at mga kasamahan sa P60 milyon loan sa Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) para sa livelihood projects ng city hall employees.

Hindi naniwala ang anti-graft court sa paggigiit ng mga akusado na ang loan ay bahagi ng kanilang official duties.

“Lest the defense forget, the accused are being tried for a violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. By the nature of the offense, the acts complained of are those committed by the respondents while in the performance of official duty. As made clear in its Statement of Policy, the purpose of the law (R.A. No. 3019) is to repress certain acts of public officers and private persons alike which constitute graft or corrupt practices or which may lead thereto.”