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Thursday, January 25, 2007
Vice guv set to file graft raps v. Lapids
By Marna H. Dagumboy
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Pampanga Vice Governor Joseller "Yeng" Guiao will file graft charges against the Lapids next week.
Guiao said he and his camp will sue Senator Manuel "Lito" Lapid and son Governor Mark Lapid before the Office of the Ombudsman. He added that their lawyers are finalizing the complaints against the Lapids.
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Earlier, barangay officials from three villages in Candaba town expressed their desire to file graft charges against the senator and the governor due to alleged "double-funded ghost projects."
Guiao said the officials are from the 33 barangays in the province that were reportedly provided by the Lapids with millions of pesos from the 20 percent development funds of the governor and from the Priority Development Assistance Funds (Pdaf) of the senator sometime in 2004 for projects allegedly completed in 2005. The officials have denied receiving the funds.
Records shown by Vice Governor Yeng said Barangays Lourdes, Mandili and Magumbali were purportedly given more than P4 million for the completion of their road projects--such as rehabilitation and improvement of the Lourdes and Magumbali farm-to-market road with a funding of P1,335,250 from the governor's 20 percent development funds and rehabilitation and improvement of Mandili farm-to-market road amounting to P977,500 from Senator Lapid's Pdaf.
Guiao said the projects are included in a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the Provincial Government duly represented by the governor and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) represented by the concerned district engineer.
Hence, barangay chairmen Nestor Sanggalang of Lourdes, Lucio Pelayo of Mandili and Pedro Balingit of Magumbali said they felt betrayed and insulted because their barangays were used in the "illegal" activities.
The three said they are bent to file charges against the Lapids to clear their names in the alleged "irregularities". (Sun.Star Pampanga/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Iloilo. (January 25, 2007 issue)
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