ASPIRING Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib denied allegations of a former security aide of Davao del Norte 1st District Representative Pantaleon Alvarez of using government funds to buy luxury vehicles and properties in the province.

Jeffrey Lopez Cabigon, who claims to be the former security aide of Alvarez, filed plunder charges before the office of the Ombudsman-Mindanao on Monday, May 6 against former speaker Alvarez who is running for reelection as representative of Davao del Norte’s 1st District and his chief of staff Jubahib who is vying for the gubernatorial seat.

In his affidavit, Cabigon accused Representative Alvarez and Jubahib of violations of Republic Act (RA) No. 7080, otherwise known as the Plunder Act, and RA 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. But Jubajib, brushed aside the accusations, saying the move was politically-motivated to taint his name.

“Ang akong masulti kana tanan nga gihimo ni Jeffrey Cabigon, nasayod ako nga adunay katumbas niana nga dakong kantidad kay kana tanan iyang giistorya matod kanako, wala kanay kamatooran ug dili gyud kana tinood (Someone is paying Cabigon to tell these untrue stories about me),” Jubahib said.

He added, “Himo-himo lang ng tanan para lang pandaot sa akoa kay nakita nila ang suporta sa katawhan sa akoa ug mao ng ila kong gihimoan para maguba ang among reason sa katawhan (They are doing these to bring me down because they saw that there are a lot who are supporting me).”

Among Cabigon’s claim was Jubahibs’s acquisition of two Hummer vehicles in Subic for P6 million and P8 million, respectively.

Jubahib said that the hummer vehicle was owned by his friend from Cagayan de Oro. The original owner no longer uses it because it consumes a high amount of gasoline and gets broken regularly. It was sent in Davao del Norte and he had it fixed to be used again.

Aside from that, Cabigon claimed that Alvarez allegedly purchased a bullet-proof Toyota Land Cruiser through Jubahib. A Toyota FJ Cruiser and a Mercedes Benz G55 was also allegedly bought by Alvarez.

Jubahib said the Land Cruiser was from someone in Manila which serves as their service whenever they are in Davao del Norte. They only allow Jubahib to use it.

He likewise dismissed allegations of buying a lot in J.P. Laurel, Panabo City owned by the Ugdang family for P64 million.

“Unya kanang farm land, pakitaa kog deed of sale. Kanang giingon ng yuta sa Panabo kabalo man siya ana nga dili na akoa, akoa lang ng gigamit karon kay wala pay nigamit (Show me a deed of sale that proves that I own the land. That land is not mine but I am using it because nobody is using it yet),” he added.

Meanwhile, he is eyeing to file countercharges against Cabigon for his accusations against him.