Alaminos City Mayor Hernani Braganza. Photo from https://www.alaminoscity.gov.ph
MANILA, Philippines—Barangay (village) officials from Alaminos, Pangasinan on Friday filed a complaint with the Office of the Ombudsman against Alaminos City Mayor Hernani Braganza for alleged misuse of public funds, including a P300 million loan obtained by the local government from the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) during the Arroyo administration.
Aside from Braganza, named in the complaint for violation of the Anti-Graft law, malversation of Public Funds were incumbent members of Sangguniang Panlungsod,City Administrator Wilmer Panabang, City Treasurer Shierly de la Cruz,City Budget Officer Rowena Ruiz, City Accountant Mrs. Acosta, City Engineer Ismael C. Najer and unnamed officials of RR Encabo Construction.
Complainants said the P300 million loan was intended for the construction of the Alaminos City Hospital, City hotel as replacement of the City Tourism Building at Lucap and the construction of Pangasinan State University Buildings.
Out of the P300 million loan, P51 million was allocated for the purchase of heavy equipment. However, some of the heavy equipment was being used to flatten and even out the hills and mountains for the construction of the Alaminos City Airport.
But complainants said the loan failed to state specific allocations for each project.
The construction for the hospital worth P49.783 million was awarded to RR Encabo Construction. The contract duration was supposed to be until June 2010.
“Up to the present, the project is not yet done as it is only 65% accomplished. Moreover, there are information that said project failed to qualify the Department of Health’s standard of hospitals since what was constructed are separate buildings or units unlike the DOH’s requirement of a whole building or one-unit hospital,” the complaint stated.
“Clearly, there is no proper coordination with the DOH and resulted to the change of purpose of the project from a Hospital to Medical Services Complex. Thus, the project was renamed to Hundred Islands Medical Services Complex,” the complaint further stated.
On the expansion of the university, complainants said, only one building was constructed. A P75 million budget has been given for another PSU school building but the plan did not push through.
Complainants include incumbent barangay chairmen Samuel R. Alcantara,Sr.,Ronald C. Bautista,Ester M. Bernal,Victor C. Ranches,Jessie B. Racraquin,Trinidad R. Soriano,Joffrey P. Orfinada,Eusibio R. Fronda,Jose Q. Regatcho,Milagros C. Payas and Mario P. Rabadon.
They were joined by former barangay chairmen Antonio B. Cortez,Carlito R. Ravarra,Alex A. Recosana and Ronald R. Bernas.
“Every single centavo of Government funds must be accounted for since this money is not owned by the Government officials, rather it belongs to its constituents at large. This is a clear example betrayal of people’s trust that should not be countenanced and thus, should be stopped.” The complainants said.