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Monday, August 25, 2003
Sarangani residents set march v. corruption
By Edwin G. Espejo
ALABEL -- Sarangani officials are finding themselves increasingly isolated after they were named in a multi-million-peso scam involving public funds.
At least 8,000 Sarangans from all walks of life and from all over the province are set to converge Monday at the Capitol grounds in Alabel to demand the immediate resignation of elected officials and employees accused of pocketing millions intended for cooperatives and non-government organizations.
The group calls itself the Sarangani People's Action for Reform and Good Governance (Spar Good). It is composed of church people and religious leaders from all denominations and sectors, including the Muslim religious community.
Catholic priest Fred Maghanoy of Alabel Parish and chair of Spar Good told reporters over the weekend that they will hold a prayer rally at the Capitol grounds to denounce the massive and "systematic looting of public funds" in Sarangani.
He urged Malacañang to immediately put all Sarangani officials named in the affidavits of two accused-turned-witnesses under preventive suspension.
Maghanoy said this is to prevent the officials from using their influence and clout to cover up the scam.
Step down
At the same time, the Alabel parish priest also called on Gov. Miguel Escobar and fellow elected officials to step down from their posts in the light of the controversial fund scam.
Mary Ann Gadian and Sheryl Desiree Jane Tangan, both assigned at the vice governor's office, named Governor Escobar, Vice Gov. Felipe Constantino and Provincial Board (PB) Members Margie Rudes, Eugene Alzate, Hernando Sibugan, Redempto Abiso, Teodorico Diaz, Juanito Purisima, Pyang Singcoy, Marlind Marcelo, Jesus Desidilla and Lelibeth Canillo as among those who participated in the systematic and widespread "looting" of public funds in the province.
Also named in the complaints were Provincial Administrator Perla Maglinte, Provincial Accountant Maria Camanay and Provincial Treasurer Ceasar Cagang.
In her affidavit, Gadian claimed she was ordered by several provincial officials to divert funds from the province using non-existent cooperatives and forge signatures of beneficiaries.
She said as much as P61 million in capitol funds were lost in the process.
Most of the funds reportedly went into the pockets of high-ranking provincial officials and employees.
NBI custody
Both Gadian and Tangan were earlier charged before the Office of the Ombudsman for reportedly masterminding the multi-million-fund scam.
But the two hit back after reportedly receiving several death threats from influential public officials in Sarangani.
They claimed they were only ordered by these officials to facilitate the fund releases to bogus cooperative and fictitious beneficiaries.
Both are now under the protective custody of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
Meanwhile, the Commission on Audit (COA) reportedly confirmed the anomalous releases of grants and aids to at least 81 existing and non-existing cooperatives in the province.
In fact, in its recent audit report, COA sources said the province had a standing P46,993,720.83 in unliquidated expenses as of December 31, 2002.
Several local COA officials have also reportedly received death threats from unidentified men as a result of the report.
Falling out
Escobar has repeatedly denied any involvement in the fund anomaly.
He told local reporters to wait until the investigation is over before passing judgment on them.
"Let's wait for the investigation. Don't prejudge things based on oral accounts. Hurling accusations is easy but proving what you said is another thing," Escobar said.
The governor already formed two bodies to conduct an investigation into the reported anomaly.
Until now, however, the bodies have yet to release their findings.
Sources said special investigators from the national headquarters of the National Bureau of Investigation have (NBI) already arrived in the province to conduct an independent probe on the anomaly upon the request of Sarangani Rep. Erwin Chiongbian.
The controversy resulted into the falling out between Escobar's camp and the Chiongbians, known political kingpins in the area and widely credited for the creation of Sarangani as a separate province in 1992.
Politically motivated
Vice Gov. Felipe Constantino likewise branded the allegations against him and fellow provincial officials as politically motivated.
The vice governor's daughter and chief of staff, Carmela Amelia Constantino-Zoleta, was also named in the affidavit-complaint of Gadian.
It was Zoleta who reportedly orchestrated the anomalous releases of funds for several projects proposals submitted to the office of the vice governor.
But politicians are not behind Monday's huge mobilization, said Fr. Freed Maghanoy.
"This is a multi-sectoral mobilization and our only purpose is to protect people in Sarangani from corrupt officials," the Catholic priest said.
He, however, said town officials, including mayors, are welcome to join the rally.
Aside from the Catholic Church, also participating in the protest rally are religious leaders from United Church of Christ (UCCP) and United Pentecostal Church.
(August 25, 2003 issue)
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