A group of farmers and fishers from Narvacan, Ilocos Sur has filed plunder and graft charges against former mayor Chavit Singson before the Ombudsman.
They accuse him of buying a 10-hectare market site at P149 million, a price they say far exceeds its P49-million market value, and of illegally occupying a public shoreline for a private rest house.
In a report on GMA News Online, the complaint said "Singson acted as the main plunderer, initiating and negotiating the purchase, while the Sangguniang Bayan members, assessor, and Ang participated as co-conspirators. The LGUs repeated failure to submit financial statements from 2019 to 2022 allegedly sealed the irregularity.”
“The complainant seeks the filing of plunder charges, issuance of a subpoena duces tecum to compel production of relevant documents, preventive suspension of incumbent Mayor Edna Sanidad, a lifestyle check of the respondents, and restitution or payment of P99,974,000.00 representing the overprice, in addition to administrative penalties and perpetual disqualification from public office,” the complaint added.
The complainant said the subject property formerly owned by Western Textile Mills was originally donated by private individuals to the National Development Company (NDC) for industrial and economic development purposes.
The purchased property, it said, did not redound to the benefit of the original donors and contrary to Deed of Donation and Resolution No. 25-SS which is the legal cover for expropriation proceedings over the said property.
“He (Singson) instead proceeded with a sale, thereby depriving the original donors of the opportunity to recover the donated property-an option that could have been available had expropriation been properly pursued,” the complainant said.
GRAFT COMPLAINT
In a separate complaint, the group also accused Chavit; Robert Dean Barbers, former general manager/chief executive office of Philippine Tourism Authority; Luzviminda Ramos, manager of Narvacan Tourism Lodge and caretaker of the area locally known as "Santorini;" and Rosemarie Jornacion, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer of Ilocos Sur of graft.
It said the respondent illegally occupied and privatized the foreshore area in Sulvec, Narvacan, known as Santorini, by constructing resort structures without permits or environment clearance.
The group questioned the 2008 Deed of Sale executed by Barbers transfering the land to Ramos' company without a presidential approval.
"The acts allegedly cause undue injury to the government, violated environmental laws, and showed abuse of authority and conspiracy among the respondents," it said.
The complainant sought the filing of charges against the respondents, nullification of the sale, sanctions against Jornacion, ad demolition of the structures to restore public access to the foreshore.
DENIAL
Singson denied the accusations and called the complaint a diversion.
“Kalokohan ito. This is another diversionary tactic. Sa palagay ko may nagpapaandar na sa kanya, file agad sa Ombudsman, ikukulong 'to. Kung totoo yan I'm ready to go to jail. They are taking advantage, may nagpopondo na naman dito na malaki,” he said.
(with reports from LLANESCA T. PANTI & AOL, GMA Integrated News)
