Solon’s daughter faces probe

TACLOBAN CITY—A provincial board member is facing an investigation at the Office of the Ombudsman over “nonexistent projects” worth P6 million when she was mayor of Carigara town, Leyte, in 2010.

Board Member Anlie Apostol, daughter of Leyte Rep. Sergio Apostol, declined to comment on the advice of her lawyers.

The investigation stemmed from the resolution passed by the municipal council of Carigara, which endorsed its findings to the Ombudsman on Apostol’s supposed water impounding projects in Barangays Binibihan, San Isidro and Paglaum.

Resolution No. 2015-052, dated April 25, said an ocular inspection revealed that the projects in the three villages did not exist. It added that based on documents, these were not implemented even if money had been released by the municipal government.

The resolution said the supply office of Carigara had no record of materials used in the supposed construction of the projects.

Of the P6 million allocation, P5 million came from the Bureau of Soils and Water Management and the remaining P1 million was from the priority development assistance fund (PDAF) of then Rep. Trinidad Apostol, mother of Board Member Apostol.

The resolution said the transaction took place in April 2010.

But the resolution didn’t point out the role of Board Member Apostol in these ghost projects except that these happened when she was mayor.

The former mayor is now serving her second term as board member representing Leyte’s second district.

The resolution only said there was probable cause to file charges against “those who may be held liable.”

The municipal council endorsed the same documents to the Leyte provincial board for appropriate action. Joey A. Gabieta, Inquirer Visayas