Parañaque treasurer charged with graft for reducing condo taxes

MANILA — State prosecutors have formally charged a Parañaque City treasurer with reducing the property tax of a condominium association despite its supposed failure to comply with amnesty requirements.

Anthony Pulmano, officer-in-charge of the Parañaque city treasurer’s office, faces a case before the Sandiganbayan for violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

The case arose from the reduction of the real property tax delinquency liability of the Chevy Chase Condominium Owners Association, Inc. to P4.05 million, from the original amount of P12.89 million.

Pulmano allegedly allowed Chevy Chase to avail of the benefits of a tax amnesty program for delinquent property owners under the Parañaque City Ordinance No. 13-08, series of 2013.

This was despite “knowing fully well that Chevy Chase failed to comply with the requirements of the Ordinance,” according to the charge sheet signed by Graft Investigation and Prosecution Officer Luicelo Ramirez, Jr.

The case information stated that Chevy Chase paid its RPT deficiency beyond the period provided by the ordinance. The reduction of its taxes caused “undue injury to the government” in violation of the graft law, the prosecution alleged.

A bail of P30,000 was recommended against Pulmano. City Councilor Maritess de Asis will serve as one of the prosecution witnesses.

The case was raffled off to the Sandiganbayan Fourth Division.  SFM/rga