Ex-Leyte mayor charged with graft

Former Babatngon, Leyte Mayor Charita Montaño Chan has been charged with graft at the Sandiganbayan.

In a three-page decision dated April 20, the anti-graft court noted that in 2014, or sometime prior or subsequent thereto, Chan violated Section 3 (e) of Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for "conspiring and confederating with a private individual Christopher M. Estrella, owner of CSE Builders."

The Court said Chan allegedly gave "unwarranted benefit, advantage or preference to CSE Builders/Estrella" through the following acts:

• accused Chan requested the Sangguniang Bayan of Babatngon to pass a resolution permitting/allowing the sand and gravel application of CSE/Estrella;
• accused Estrella/CSE actually conducted extraction of sand and gravel at the Salug Dongon River without an extraction permit from the Office of the Provincial Governor and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources; and
• Chan allowed the illegal extraction activities of CSE and refused to heed to the Petition of the residents of the affected barangays, and the Committee Report of the Sangguniang Bayan to stop the sand and gravel operation of CSE; thereby causing undue injury to the government to the affected residents.

The bail recommended is P30,000. — Anna Felicia Bajo/BM, GMA News