Bohol Rep. Relampagos charged with graft over anomalous privatization deal

Former Bohol governor and incumbent Representative Rene Relampagos was charged with graft before the Sandiganbayan over the undervalued privatization of the provincial capitol’s water and electricity system in 2000.

Ombudsman prosecutors filed the graft charge against Relampagos, his former Vice Governor Edgardo Chatto, and members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for violations of Section 3(g) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Chatto is the incumbent Bohol governor.

Charged alongside Relampagos and Chatto is Dennis Villareal, president of the Salcon Power and Water consortiums which bagged the deal for the privatization of the capitol’s electricity and water utility systems.

According to the graft sheet, Relampagos, Chatto, and Villareal conspired with one another in privatizing the water and electricity systems to Salcon even though the price was undervalued.

Relampagos entered into a joint venture with Villareal to transfer the assets and franchise of the provincial electricity system to the power consortium for P75 million, and of the water system to the water consortium for P80 million, for a combined amount of P150 million, even though the combined value of the two utilities in terms of assets and franchise is P782 million.

The prosecutors said Relampagos and Chatto entered into an agreement which is grossly disadvantageous to government.

The members of the Sanggunian charged together with Relampagos are Arnold Lungay, Isabelito Tongco, Eufrasio Mascarinas, Concepcion Lim, Exequiel Madrinan, Severino Caberte, Tomas Abapo Jr., Francisco Alena Sr., Felix Uy, and Renato Inocentes Lopez.
They stand accused of violating Section 3(g) of the antigraft law, which considers as a corrupt practice entering into any contract or transaction manifestly and grossly disadvantageous to the government, whether or not the public officer stand to profit from the transaction.