Ex-mayor faces graft before Ombudsman

MINALIN -- Mayor Arturo Naguit formally filed graft charges against former mayor Edgardo Flores before the Office of the Ombudsman over the construction of the P7.9-million evacuation center in 2010. 

In his complaint affidavit filed recently, Mayor Naguit said the center was constructed using public or government funds from the National Housing Authority (NHA) that were intended for the construction of an evacuation center for Minalin constituents.

Accordingly, the said center was constructed on private lots owned by Francisco P. Flores (deceased), married to Anita Galopo, with an area of 1,396 square meters covered by Original Certificate of Title 5680; Francisco Nicolas, with an area of 562 square meters covered by Tax Declaration No. 14015-284; and Anita G. Flores, with an area of 560 square meters, covered by Tax Declaration No. 14015-259.

The complaint affidavit stated that “on April 20, 2008, Francisco Nicolas and Anita Flores executed a Deed of Donation in favor of the Municipality of Minalin, represented by then-Mayor Edgardo G. Flores, for the purpose of donating their lots to the Municipality of Minalin. 

However, Naguit said then mayor Flores was not authorized by the Municipal Council to sign and accept the deed of donation.

In fact, he said, the same was not even ratified by the local legislative body. 

Naguit's affidavit stressed that as of May 15, 2012, the lots where the evacuation center now where a multipurpose center stands are still declared under the names of Francisco Flores, Francisco Nicolas and Anita Flores.

“The construction of the evacuation center, now named Francisco P. Flores Sr. multipurpose center at Barangay Sto. Rosario, this town has caused damage and undue injury to the government, specifically since the center is constructed on private properties, and was not properly turned over to the municipality of Minalin,” Naguit said.

"Bilang mayor pananagutan ko na protektahan ang mga ari-arian at interest ng munisipyo kaya ito ang nakita nating paraan para mabawi ito," Mayor Naguit told Sun.Star Pampanga.