Councilman raps mayor, 9 others over 'land deal'

BARANGAY Bata councilman Flora Abaring filed criminal and administrative charges against Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson, Councilor Dindo Ramos and seven village officials before the Office of the Ombudsman in the Visayas.

The village officials charged were village chief Angelito Abaring, secretary Cristina Sarol, councilmen Juanito Balinas, Ruel Alarcon, Harvey Apinan, Roderick Gregas and Nenita Lumauag.

The charges were in relation to their alleged violation of Republic Act 3019, Section B, or the Anti-graft and Corrupt Practices Act; violation of Article 171 of the Revised Penal Code, grave misconduct, dishonesty and acts prejudicial to public service.

Abaring sent her letter complaint to Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol last January 15.

She said the case stemmed from the June 6, 2012 letter of Sayson, then acting mayor, who had requested acting Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran to pass an appropriation ordinance allocating P50 million for "various essential needs of the city," wherein in Paragraph 4 of Sayson's letter-request states that about P1.5 million is to be allocated for Barangay Bata's lot acquisition for its public plaza.

A close scrutiny of the documents, however, showed that no such formal request was made by Barangay Bata for a P1.5-million allocation for lot acquisition, although a similar request was made coming from the Office of the City Mayor.

On June 11, 2012, the City Council passed the P50-million Appropriation Ordinance to be taken from the cumulative operating surplus under the General Fund.

Following the City Council concurrence, a prepared Resolution 228 was passed around by Abaring for signature of each village official on September 3, 2012, stating that "fixing the fair market value of a parcel of land which is Lot 2, Block 5, covered by TCT No. T-2185 registered in the name of Generoso Jalandoni, situated in Barangay Bata, Bacolod City with an area of 1,000 square meters more or less at P1,500 per square meter or a total of P1,500,000."

The complainant said that no such meeting was held on September 3, 2012 "but Abaring urged us, the Sangguniang Barangay (village council) members, to sign the same for the good of Barangay Bata."

On September 10, during the village council’s regular session, the Bata council members concurred with a resolution under Resolution item No. 6, requesting "for the grant of authority to the punong barangay to sign in the Declaration of Heirship with Absolute Deed of Sale," which the barangay chief claimed have been prepared by Councilor Ramos, who had been in constant meeting with the former on the land deal.

On December 10, 2012, the complainant recalled, without any meeting, another prepared resolution, No. 12-12, was circulated by the village chief for signature of each barangay kagawad, the dispositive portion of which stated: "A Resolution authorizing Hon. Angelito V. Abaring, the punong barangay of Barangay Bata, to sign the amicable settlement and the Deed of Conveyance documents in relation to the Lot Acquisition for public plaza."

"The introduction of the prepared resolution (Resolution No. 12-12 s. 2012) is not included in the agenda of the regular meeting. I became suspicious that an ominous sign of corruption is brewing between our punong barangay and that of the officials of the City Government of Bacolod City. I refused to sign the minutes of the meeting held on December 10, 2012," Abaring said.

She pointed out that she also did not sign on December 17 another resolution authorizing the barangay treasurer to withdraw P1.5 million as payment to Jalandoni's supposed heir, Imelda de Asis vda. de Jalandoni.

Her reasons for not signing, she added, were anchored on the fact that the same resolution was not included in the agenda, and that no meeting for discussion was held for such purpose.

Abaring added that on January 7, 2013, when the questionable land deal has been consummated, village chief Angelito Abaring allegedly gave each councilman and barangay secretary Sarol, P10,000 each as bonus for the consummation of the land deal. (CNC)