Plunder raps filed vs Laguna mayor, vice mayor

MANILA, Philippines – Biñan, Laguna Mayor Marlyn Alonte-Naguiat and Vice Mayor Walfredo Dimaquila Jr. were charged with plunder before the Office of the Ombudsman yesterday over the alleged overpriced purchase of a property in 2009.

The city government bought a 29,817-square-meter land to expand the municipal cemetery for P98.396 million when its market value was only P21.468 million, according to the complaint filed by businesswoman Adelaida Yatco.

Yatco is the mother of Councilor Jose Francisco Yatco, who is running for mayor against Dimaquila.

“Respondents should be preventively suspended considering that the evidence of their guilt is strong and the charges against them involve grave offenses warranting their removal from office,” the complaint stated.

Naguiat’s mother is a co-owner of the property, it added.

“This grossly disadvantageous contract… was entered into by the respondents and the sellers…for no other reason than to get kickbacks and profit from such transaction,” the complaint read.