A FORMER mayor of Jasaan, Misamis Oriental and her husband are set to face trial before the anti-graft court for allegedly mispending some P1.5 million of government funds in developing their own agricultural land.
In a statement issued by the Office of the Ombudsman in its website, erstwhile Jasaan mayor Grace Jardin and her spouse Redentor, the former municipal administrator, were found to have violated the anti-graft and corrupt practices act and will face the Sandiganbayan for the trial.
Investigation showed that the former mayor entered into several agreements through resolutions approved by the municipal council for the implementation of the Agri Demo Farm in barangay San Isidro and the Eco-Tourism Park in barangay Corrales.
However, the Ombudsman said it was found out that the two were able to utilize some P1.5 million worth of public funds to develop their “once barren agricultural land.”
The Ombudsman resolution dated February 28 said "Respondent-spouses were public officers who had direct financial interest in the contract.
Under the MOAs, their properties would have been developed by the municipality at their own expense, while the management of the park in Barangay Corrales would have been subsequently turned over to them upon refund of the municipality's investment."
"As to the San Isidro Demo Farm, the municipality would essentially be developing respondent-spouses' property without cost to them. On the other hand, as to the Corrales Eco-Tourism Park, [they] would be benefited by the share that the municipality was obligated to put in the investment, which they would otherwise have to secure on their own elsewhere," the resolution reads.
The Ombudsman said section 3 of RA 3019 "prohibits public officials from causing any undue injury to any party, including the government, or giving any private party any unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference in the discharge of his official administrative or judicial functions through manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence."
Another provision of said law states that "it’s unlawful for public officials to directly or indirectly have financial or pecuniary interest in any business, contract or transaction in connection with which he intervenes or takes part in an official capacity, or in which he is prohibited by the constitution or by any law from having any interest."