Former town mayor faces falsification case

THE Office of the Ombudsman has filed a falsification case before the Sandiganbayan against former Labason (Zamboanga del Norte) mayor Wilfredo Balais.

The Ombudsman filed the case on November 27, which was designated to the Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division.

The Ombudsman alleged in the charge sheet that “in January 2011, or sometime prior or subsequent thereto,” Balais “did then and there willfully, unlawfully and feloniously falsify or caused to be falsified the Notice of Award dated 20 January 2011... by making it appear therein that the bid of Oro Cars Display Center in the amount of P960,000.00 was accepted, thereby making it appear that it had participated in the said bidding...”

According to the charge sheet, the Notice of Award pertained to the procurement of a Nissan Patrol.

The Ombudsman alleged that Balais “fully well knew that Oro Cars Display Center did not so participate in the afore-mentioned bidding...”

The Ombudsman recommended P24,000 bail for Balais’ provisional liberty.