Abra gov faces graft raps

BANGUED, Philippines – Abra Gov. Eustaquio Bersamin has been charged with graft before the Office of the Ombudsman.

Leo Bermillo Barbosa, a resident of Barangay Guimba in San Juan town, who filed the complaint, said Bersamin failed to act on a 2014 report of the Commission on Audit (COA), which questioned the provincial government’s various infrastructure projects and use of public funds.

“Materials or quality tests on various infrastructure projects… totaling P136,234,274.27 were not conducted,” the  complaint quoting the COA report stated.

“Post-qualification of a contractor and evaluation of his bids for nine contracts aggregating P42,852,036.86 disclosed overlapping projects, same key personnel and lacked of information on the list of equipment to be used... casting doubt on the integrity of contract awards,” it added.

State auditors said Bersamin also hired 134 contractuals and 899 job-order employees without approval by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

The COA also questioned the provincial government’s use of its share on excise taxes on tobacco amounting to P41 million.

Asked for his reaction, Bersamin dismissed the allegations as politically motivated.

Bersamin, who is on his third term as governor, is running for mayor of Bangued.