Cagayan de Oro mayor cleared in tax case

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — The Office of the Ombudsman has cleared Mayor Oscar Moreno and a few others of graft involving a tax deal with condiments maker Ajinomoto Philippines in 2013.

The 13-page decision was issued on Jan. 2.

The dismissal of the case against Moreno, former city treasurer Glenn Bañez and Ajinomoto representative Jocelyn Tsang was signed by Ombudsman Samuel Martires.

“The respondents’ actions do not satisfy the undersigned’s well-founded beliefs that crimes were committed,” read a part of the decision.

Moreno said the Ombudsman’s order had at least cleared his name.

“At the very least, this vindicates us,” he said.

“This is certainly a very important victory,” he said.

“This decision is very enlightening and I know that we have always been on the right side,” the mayor added.