Capitol’s ‘overpriced’ sheep issue escalates

PULUPANDAN Mayor Magdaleno Peña said he is filing charges for plunder and violation of Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act against Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. and Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Renante Decena for the alleged overpriced purchase of imported sheep in Australia.

Peña said he will also file charges to the co-signatories of the deal namely broadcaster Donard Nojas, Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez, and some members of the Provincial Board (PB) before the Office of the Ombudsman in Cebu.

"Board Member Patrick Lacson will follow the advice of Marañon that he is going back to Cebu. But he is coming back to Cebu to personally bring the complaint documents against Marañon and Decena and file them before the Office of the Ombudsman there," Peña said in a press conference at the office of the Vice Governor Wednesday.

He said that former Ambassador Eduardo Cojuangco Jr., chairman emeritus of the Nationalist People’s Coalition under which Alvarez and Lacson are running, called up Alvarez and advised him to be a co-signatory in the complaint against Marañon and Decena.

Sugar leader Manuel Lamata was present when Cojuanco called Alvarez, added Peña.

Peña said that the defense of Alvarez and the members of the PB for signing the purchase documents for the sheep acquisition would be that they trusted Marañon.

Peña said that he has the letter from International Livestock that proves the alleged $65 to $100 overpricing in Capitol’s sheep purchase.

Marañon and Decena denied who said that the transaction followed the normal purchase procedure.

Marañon labeled the allegation as rehashed, done for political advancement of the Alvarez camp, is part of a demolition job against him and that transportation and other handling costs were not considered in the computation of Peña.

Peña said that he is filing the complaint in a week's time after preparing all the requisite documents.

"I just let Marañon, Decena, Atty. Jose Maria Valencia and Mr. Enrique Pinongan talk that my allegations are only political, lies and half-truths. But the fact is, I already have this letter from International Livestock that served as the broker for the purchase of the sheep by Capitol so I have already established that proof of the overpricing," Peña said.

Marañon said on Wednesday that he welcomes the move of Peña.

In a statement, Marañon said, "We welcome that. In fact we have long suggested that, so that the issue will be heard and evaluated by the proper venue, by an impartial arbiter. That is good because, in the last two months or so, they have been using it as a propaganda tool by twisting the facts.”

“Remember that this purchase was approved by the Vice Governor and the entire Provincial Board through Ordinance No. 003, they concurred every detail of the transaction, they were the ones who set the selling price, among others,” he added.

Marañon also answered Peña's claim that the work on the Negros First Cyber Center has been stopped because the Banko Central Ng Pilipinas has found it anomalous.

"When construction of the Cyber Center commenced, the BSP was not requiring clearance for it. But at the start of the New Year, they came out with a new directive and, as a law abiding LGU, we must follow that bank's rules. So we assembled all the documentary requirements and submitted them to the BSP, as per the new requisite of the bank. Work certainly slowed down as we await the Central Bank's clearance. By the way, proof that Magsie is a master in twisting facts is his implied contention that LGUs are under the BSP regulatory powers. That is simply twisted," Marañon said. (TDE)