Graft charges vs Flores ‘concocted, frivolous lies’

MINALIN -- Former mayor Edgardo Flores described the case filed against him by incumbent Mayor Arturo Naguit before the Office of the Ombudsman as “frivolous and concocted lies.”

Naguit filed graft charges against Flores over the construction of the P7.9-million evacuation center in 2010.

But Flores said that contrary to the claim of Naguit, the construction of the evacuation center is supported by documents.

He said a valid deed of donation dated April 3, 2008 was executed between Epifania Dado (land owner) and the municipality of Minalin. The deed was properly accepted Flores who was the mayor then.

Naguit alleged that the former mayor was not authorized by the Municipal Council to sign and accept the deed of donation.

Flores, however, stands firm in saying the Council’s authority is no longer needed because it has been a practice of the municipality to accept donation even without authorization or concurrence of the local legislative body.

Vice Mayor Edgar Yambao supported Flores’ claim, saying the Municipal Council no longer need to authorize the mayor to enter or accept donation, as the same would promote inconvenience on the part of the donor.

Yambao cited the Provincial Government’s donation of a garbage truck that Mayor Naguit accepted even without authorization from the Municipal Council.

"Kahit naman sa panahon niya (Mayor Naguit) marami ring nai-donate na hindi na dumaan pa sa Sangguniang Bayan (Even during his time, Naguit accepted donations even without the authorization of the Council)," he said.