Parañaque city treasurer charged with graft

State prosecutors have formally charged the Parañaque City treasurer for 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 in the Sandiganbayan for violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

The case arose from the reduction of Chevy Chase Condominium Owners Association, Inc.’s real property tax delinquency liability 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 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 stated in the ordinance. The reduction of its taxes caused “undue injury to the government” in violation of the graft law, the prosecution alleged.

One of the witnesses expected to testify against Pulmano, for whom bail of P30,000 was recommended, was city councilor Maritess de Asis.

The case was raffled off to the Sandiganbayan Fourth Division.