House panel summons more people in probe of dubious deals in Pampanga town
MANILA, Philippines — The House Committee on Public Accounts has asked individuals involved in questionable contracts in the town of Mexico, Pampanga, to attend its probe on the issue.
Town Mayor Teddy Tumang was allegedly also involved in the contracts.
During its hearing on Wednesday afternoon, the committee asked Perlita Lagman, Mexico’s former municipal accountant, to attend the next hearing.
The committee, chaired by Abang Lingkod party-list Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano, also summoned the following alleged suppliers who have transacted Tumang :
- Rizalito Dizon
- Dr. Roberto Tugade
- Eduardo Santiago
They were included in the contracts flagged by the Commission on Audit (COA) during Tumang’s previous term as mayor from 2007 to 2010.
According to Surigao del Sur 2nd District Rep. Johnny Pimentel, there were 164 disbursement vouchers flagged by COA, showing checks were released by the local government without the signature of the municipal accountant.
Lagman was the municipal accountant from 2007 to 2010. She was dismissed from service in 2021.
“One of the findings of the audit investigation, item number six, 164 disbursement vouchers totaling P26,719,162.53 were processed and paid without the necessary approval by the municipal accountant in violation of Section 4 of PD (Presidential Decree) 1445 and Section 344 of the Local Government Code,” Pimentel said.
“In spite of the fact of the non-signature of the municipal accountant, the municipality of Mexico proceeded with the issuance of checks. This is a clear violation [of whatever] accounting rules and regulations […] Maybe she did not sign because something was wrong with the voucher,” he added, speaking partly in Filipino.
Tumang — who attended the hearing on Wednesday after being scolded last July 26 for his absence — denied having close ties with the suppliers mentioned.
Lawmakers questioned Tumang if he knew some of the people concerned, considering that in one of the Notice of Disallowance (ND) issued by COA, Tugade’s name surfaced as one of the co-payers.
NDs are issued by COA once it finds out that persons involved in a specific contract have a duty to return the funds appropriated for that purpose.
Tugade, said to be a medical doctor, was a supplier of assorted medicines and contraceptives. He is also said to have shouldered parts of Tumang’s payment as stated in the ND.
“Your Honor, I cannot recall if that happened. It’s been a long time since),” Tumang said.
Tumang admitted that he knew another individual on the list — Santiago — but insisted that he had no transaction with him. He also denied being Santiago’s business partner.
Politics?
Tumang, who is again Mexico’s incumbent mayor, was being questioned for transactions that occurred during his previous stint as mayor, from 2007 to 2010.
In the last hearing, Pimentel said that Tumang signed several supposedly anomalous contracts amounting to P149 million.
Also in that hearing, Ernesto Punzalan, who filed the complaint affidavit against Tumang before the House panel, said there were anomalies in the processing of contracts, including a loan with the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) amounting to P950 million.
Tumang — who was given the chance to defend himself — lamented that other towns in Pampanga were allowed to pursue plans for a new city hall aside from Mexico, which he said was affected by politics supposedly creeping into Congress.
“This is not different from the dreams of other cities and municipalities like Angeles, San Fernando, Mabalacat, and Floridablanca. Mabalacat purchased a 2.5-hectare land worth P625 million for their new city hall. But unfortunately, it is only Mexico’s project which was opposed, like what has happened in this Congress,” he said in Filipino.
“It is clearly politics, as we have already done an extensive study and research before embarking on these projects,” he added.
He also asked Punzalan, who ran against him in Mexico’s mayoral race in the last 2022 local elections, to accept the decision of the people.
“And to Mr. Ernesto Punzalan, please accept your loss, the people voted for me and you know who won. I was ahead by 48,550 votes, and the Regional Trial Court, the Ombudsman, and Sandiganbayan have decided. Let’s accept and respect the results,” Tumang said.
Paduano maintained, however, that his committee was only acting on complaints, which he had already verified with COA and the Office of the Ombudsman.
“Just a quick reaction to the opening statement of Mayor Tumang, just to again reiterate […] that we have nothing to do with your local politics, the committee takes cognizance of this issue based on facts, and [as] the chairman of this committee upon receiving the letter coming from Mr. Punzalan, I asked the COA about the issues raised by Mr. Punzalan, and that includes the Ombudsman,” he said.
