Batangas vice mayor, councilors face raps over budget delay

MANILA, Philippines — The mayor of San Pascual, Batangas has filed graft and administrative complaints against the town’s vice mayor and six councilors for allegedly delaying the approval of the budget of the municipal government.

Mayor Roanna Conti filed the complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman against Vice Mayor Antonio Dimayuga, Councilors Roumel Aguila, Dennis Panopio, Lanifel Manalo, Juanchito Chavez, Ramel Fernandez and Reyshanne Joy Marquez.

Conti said municipal government officials should be held liable for violation of Section 3 of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt and Practices Act and gross neglect of duty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, noting that the delivery of basic services were affected.

Dimayuga had earlier filed a complaint against Conti, saying she went on a trip abroad without securing a travel authority.

 “Perhaps it is only Mr. Dimayuga who is unaware of my authority to travel... as approved by Gov. Hermilando Mandanas,” Conti said.

Department of the Interior and Local Government spokesman Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said a local chief executive could travel abroad for vacation provided no government funds are used and the trip was approved by the provincial government. – Emmanuel Tupas