CEBU CITY TO PAY PRIVATE SCHOOL P135 M, INCLUDE IT IN SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

The Sandiganbayan’s dismissal of a case against Rep. Rodrigo Abellanosa will pave the way for the Cebu City Government to pay a private school, of which Abellanosa used to be president, some P135 million for scholars’ tuition. At the time the complaint was filed against Abellanosa in late 2012, the Asian College of Technology International Educational Foundation already stood to collect some P51 million from the City. “If it’s a legal obligation, we’re obligated to pay,” said Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña. City Hall will also accredit the college to accept the City’s scholars again, “but we’re not forcing anyone to go to this school. We never did that.”

It’s a legal obligation, we’re obligated to pay.

MAYOR TOMAS OSMEÑA ON THE CITY’S DEBT TO ACT

The Cebu City Government will pay the P135 million it owes to Asian College of Technology (ACT) in scholarships. The City will also accredit the school again as one of its partners.

This is the pronouncement of Mayor Tomas Osmeña following the Sandiganbayan’s order to dismiss the criminal case filed by the Ombudsman against Rep. Rodrigo Abellanosa.

“I’ve not read the decision, but the purpose of withholding payment, I understand, does not ex- ist. If it’s a legal obligation, we’re obligated to pay. We’ll accredit ACT again, but we’re not forcing anyone to go to this school. We never did that,” he said.

Last October, the Ombudsman has filed graft charges against Abellanosa before the Sandiganbayan after they accused the congressman of violating Section 3(i) of the Anti-Graft Corrupt Practices Act when he allowed his school to participate in the City Government’s scholarship program.

But the Sandiganbayan, after careful scrutiny of the allegations against Abellanosa, said not all essential elements of the offense were found.

Osmeña said that “justice is served,” adding that the whole issue was clearly political.

“Abellanosa or the City did not force the students to enroll, so it did not put him on a specific advantage. What he did was he gave the best program for the poor. That’s his fault and because of that he’s being penalized,” he said. /