Ombudsman junks raps vs Aurora mayor, 11 execs

BALER, Aurora – The Office of the Ombudsman has dismissed the graft charges filed against the mayor of this town and 11 other officials for lack of merit.

In a 12-page joint resolution, the ombudsman said Mayor Nelianto Bihasa, Councilors Noel Go, Gina Ritual, Reynaldo Mapindan, Felipe Friginal and Ramir Duaso as well as former councilors Pedro Valenzuela, Danilo Ong, Gina Agapito and Meinrado Tropicales, municipal human resource officer Curie Bernardino and municipal budget officer Francisco Reopta had been cleared of malversation, dishonesty, neglect of duty and gross misconduct.

Graft investigator Esther Velasco-Legaspi signed the resolution, which was reviewed by Adoracio Agrada and approved by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales.

Former vice mayor Karen Angara-Ularan filed the complaint, saying the respondents diverted Sangguniang Bayan funds to pay the salaries of job order employees.

The anti- graft court said the respondents could not be indicted for graft, noting ”there is no evidence to prove they persuaded, induced or influenced any public officer to perform an unlawful act or allowed themselves to be persuaded or induced.”

There was no undue injury caused by the respondents to the government or any party, the court added.

“Complainant is not considered a transacting public and her request is not one of the frontline services enumerated in the... law,” the court declared.