Pangasinan exec charged with graft over questioned land sale

A local government executive in Pangasinan has been charged with graft before the Sandiganbayan for allegedly allowing a resident to gain market value in the purchase of a residential land sometime between September 2014 and March 2015.

Based on the charge sheet filed by Ombudsman prosecutors, Provincial Assessor Nestor Peralta Quiambao will face one count of violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Quiambao is accused of “acting with manifest partiality, evident bad faith, and/or gross inexcusable negligence” for giving unwarranted benefit to a certain Josefina Calicdan.

According to the information, Quiambao allegedly cancelled the tax declaration of a residential land in Bugallon, Pangasinan owned spouses Rodolfo and Veronica Javier.

The prosecution said the cancellation was done without due notice as mandated under the Local Government Code and the 2006 Manual on Real Property Appraisal and Assessment Operation.

Quiambao also reclassified the property from residential to un-irrigated rice land.

He, however, reverted to classifying the property to a residential area upon its transfer to Calidcan.

The prosecution said this reclassification increased the market value of Calicdan’s property from P32,300 to P605,700.

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