CEBU Gov. Hilario Davide III is facing criminal and administrative charges before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas for allegedly allowing the sale of a Capitol-owned lot in Barangay Kalunasan at a lower price than the appraised value.

Complainant Judith Suico, of Barangay Magsico in San Fernando, Cebu, yesterday filed the complaints accusing Davide of grave misconduct, abuse of authority, conduct unbecoming of public official, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service, neglect of duty and violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Jone Sepe, officer-in-charge of the Provincial General Services Office, said the property was paid in full even before Davide’s term.

Deed of sale

The Provincial Government merely executed the deed of sale to occupants who have paid in full, said Sepe in a text message.

The case developed after Davide signed the deeds of absolute sale for beneficiaries of Old Philippine Railway Residents Association (Oprra), Inc. last November 2015.

Last Oct. 5, 2015, the Cebu Provincial Board authorized Davide to sign the deeds of absolute sale for a 1,464-sq.-m. lot for 12 families.

Citing newspaper reports, Suico said that the Capitol sold the property at P10 per square meter.

However, the Provincial Appraisal Committee assessed the property at P3,273 and it has a zonal valuation of P1,700 per square meter.

Agreement

Capitol’s granting of deeds of absolute sale to 12 beneficiaries of Oprra residents was based on the sales of agreement with the Provincial Government. However, the Cebu Provincial Board already terminated that agreement in 2012.

“In light of the foregoing facts, Davide clearly committed a criminal act,” said Suico in her complaint.