Ilocos mayor charged for using town resources for sister's farm

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman has filed two counts of graft against Lidlidda, Ilocos Sur mayor Jesus Sagay for allegedly allowing the development of a farm lot owned by his sister using town resources and allegedly without the approval of the municipal council.

 

Filed before the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan on July 14, the cases against Sagay include violations of Section 3 (e) and 3 (h) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

 

Section 3 (e) of RA 3019 prohibits a public official from giving unwarranted benefit, advantage or preference to any party, or from causing any party, including the government, undue injury.

 

Section 3 (h) of RA 3019, meanwhile, prohibits a public official from having a direct or indirect financial or pecuniary interest in any business, contract or transaction with the government in which his office has the capacity to intervene.

 

Graft investigation and prosecution officer Irmina Bautista said Sagay “took advantage of his official position” when he allowed the development of a lot owned by his sister, Hilda Sagay, from April 14 to May 26, 2014 as the municipality's demonstration farm site.

 

The ombudsman said Hilda's lot was not among those previously chosen by Sangguniang Bayan, or municipal council, as a farm demonstration site.

 

Sagay allegedly allowed the development of his sister's lot by deploying the municipality's kamineros or street cleaners and by utilizing the municipality's grader truck absent any permit from the municipal council.

 

The ombudsman further said Sagay disregarded the municipal council's Resolution No. 36-2014 ordering the municipality to terminate/cease from developing the subject lot, “thereby giving unwarranted benefits, advantage and preference to Hilda Sagay and causing undue injury to the local government unit”.

 

The ombudsman recommended Sagay's bail at P60,000.