STO TOMAS BATANGAS --Civic group Citizen's Crime Watch has filed a complaint against the Mayor of Sto. Tomas City and other officials for alleged violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act in relation to a purchase of land in this city.
Named respondents in a case filed by Diego L. Magpantay before the Ombudsman are Mayor Arth Jhun Marasigan, and vice mayor Catherine Jaurigue-Perez, and the city's nine councilors, namely Ross Allan D. Maligaya, Raquel M. Maloles-Salazar, Danilo P. Mabilangan, Arlene F. Manebo, Arturo U. Pecana, Gerardo M. Malijan, Helengrace P. Navarro, Victor O. Bathan, and Adrian C. Carpio.
Magpantay, who is representing the civic group, filed the case before the Office of the Ombudsman in Quezon City on Dec. 10, 2024.
The case stemmed from the Sangguniang Panglunsod's alleged impropriety in authorizing the purchase of a parcel of land 'without the necessary feasibility studies' and the respondents' alleged failure to uphold public interest over their own.'
The controversy involved the alleged negotiated purchase of 7,850 square meters of lot from a private corporation identified as Adventureland Leisure Corporation to be used for the construction of a bigger city hall compound.
In his charges sheet, the complainant cited that the 'act of purchasing a private property without the necessary due diligence is tantamount to manifest partiality and gross inexcusable negligence.'
" Given their rank and duty, respondents should have been more circumspect and diligent in the exercise of their duties considering that it is expected from them to ensure that government funds are spent diligently to prevent wastage,' the complainant said.
"The respondents' act into authorizing and subsequently entering into a contract detrimental to the best interest of his constituents and the haste by which Respondents approved the negotiated sale without any further investigation nor any feasibility studies are acts tainted with manifest partiality, evident bad faith and gross inexcusable negligence," the complaint added.
The respondents gave the previous owner of the land 'an unwarranted benefit' when they purchased the subject property which has not been appraised and was grossly inflated causing undue injury to the city government of Sto. Tomas City, the complainant alleged.
Magpantay also noted the city council's attempt to evade questions of impropriety and conflict of interest by excluding the City mayor from the supporting documents while the vice mayor acted as mayor in the transaction.
"As to the acts of the City Mayor Marasigan and the City Vice Mayor Jauriguez-Perez in delegating a power reserved to the Mayor, and exercising such delegated power, both by the two highest officials of the City, is a violation of the Local Government Code and Republic Act 3019," the complaint noted.
"They (mayor and vice mayor) intended to skirt the provisions of the Anti-Dummy Law and other related laws of the land," added the complaint.
Given their conduct, it is clear that the respondents failed to fulfill their responsibilities with the highest level of excellence, professionalism, intelligence, and skill when they approved and facilitated the purchase of the property, the complaint said.
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