Ex-Davao mayor faces graft raps

MANILA, Philippines – The Office of the Ombudsman ordered yesterday the filing of charges for multiple graft and malversation of public property against a former mayor of Davao Oriental for failing to account for government properties during his term.

Former Lupon town mayor Arfran Quiñones will be indicted before the Sandiganbayan for misappropriating government properties amounting to P446,425.77.

Graft probers said technical and scientific equipment, a laptop, software, office supplies, a mobile phone and a projector were among those unaccounted for since Quiñones left his office in 2007.

Quiñones caused undue injury to the government under Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, the ombudsman said.

Malversation is committed by a public officer who ”shall appropriate...take or misappropriate or consent through abandonment or negligence... and permit any other person to take...public funds or property,” it added.