Pangasinan mayor charged for renting out town’s heavy equipment

The mayor of Anda, Pangasinan, is facing a graft charge for renting out the town’s heavy equipment without the approval of the Sangguniang Bayan.

According to the charge, Mayor Aldrin Cerdan in 2012 took advantage of his position and acted in bad faith when he rented out the town’s backhoe, payloader and dump trucks to JASA Builders.

Prosecutors said Cerdan of rented out the equipment for P100,000 without seeking authorization from the town council.

The mayor is accused of violating Section 22(c) of Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code, “thereby giving unwarranted benefits, advantage and preference” to JASA Builders.

Cerdan also allegedly violated Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, which prohibits giving any private party any unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference through manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence.

The bail recommended is P30,000. CBB/rga