LP mayor charged for favoring wife in contract of lease

Suspended Dalaguete, Cebu mayor Ronald Allan Cesante was formally charged by the Ombudsman with graft for allegedly approving a contract of lease to four commercial units of a building to favor his wife.

In a statement on Tuesday, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales said she dismissed for lack of merit the motion for reconsideration filed by Cesante on the Ombudsman’s finding of probable cause against him.

Cesante is charged with violating Section 3(h) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for taking advantage of his position, with deliberate intent of gain, to criminally have direct or direct financial or pecuniary interest in the contract of lease he approved over four commercial units in the municipal-owned Dalaguete Commercial Center Building in Dalaguete, to favor his wife Joanna Cesante.

He is also charged with violating Article 216 or possession of prohibited interest by a public officer, as stated under the Revised Penal Code, for having direct or indirect financial or pecuniary interest in the contract of lease favorable to his wife.

The Ombudsman investigation showed that Cesante’s wife had been using the commercial space since 2004 without any contract or payment.

In 2007, Cesante signed the lease contracts in favor of his wife without approval from the Sangguniang Bayan.

According to the charge sheet filed before the Sandiganbayan, Cesante approved the contract of lease for the amount of P237,510 as goodwill money payable in three years from the execution of the contract on June 27, 2007, and P7,125.3 as monthly rental.

“Thus, accused intervenes or takes part in the contract or transaction in his official capacity to the damage and prejudice of the government,” the charge sheet read.

The Ombudsman had suspended Cesante for nine months in connection with the case. While the Ombudsman served the suspension order in November 2015, Cesante started serving the order April this year.

READ: Dalaguete mayor serves 9-month suspension

Despite his suspension, Cesante won reelection as mayor under the Liberal Party. He defeated former municipal engineer Ildebrando Almagro (of One Cebu), who was the one who filed the complaint against him. CDG/rga

READ: Suspended Dalaguete mayor goes full blast on the campaign trail