Sorsogon mayor charged with graft over uncollected penalties

Mayor Helen de Castro of Bulan, Sorsogon has been charged with graft before the Sandiganbayan over the alleged failure of the local government to collect penalties from the operator of the town's public transport terminal.

The Office of the Ombudsman accused De Castro, then-municipal engineer Toby Gonzales Jr. of violating Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

S.R. Baldon Construction and Supply owner Shirley Regunas Baldon was the sole private respondent in the charge sheet.

The Ombudsman accused the respondents of conspiring with each other in giving unwarranted benefits to S.R. Construction by failing to issue an order to deduct P145,770.60 from the firm due to liquidated damages.

The amount represents damages for the delay in the installation of an additional electric transformer in the municipality's main terminal building in 2007.

De Castro won her re-election bid as Bulan mayor during the May 2016 elections.

A bail bond of P30,000 has been recommended in the case. — MDM, GMA News