EX-ZAMBO NORTE GOVERNOR, OTHER OFFICIALS FACE RAPS OVER ALLEGED ILLEGAL DONATIONS

A FORMER governor of Zamboanga del Norte and several elected officials are facing graft and corruption charges over the alleged illegal donation of government properties, equipment, and supplies back in June 2022.

Charged were ex-Zamboanga Del Norte Gov. Roberto Uy,  Zamboanga del Norte Vice Gov. Julius Napigquit, Dipolog City Vice Mayor Senen Angeles, and eight others who were members of the 2019-2022 18th Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Zamboanga del Norte.

The cases were filed by Alex Barrera, Aurelio Monteclaro, Leoncio Orilloza, engineer Manuel Reinante, engineer Arman Alpeche, and Dr. Eduardo Luayon, all provincial government employees and private residents.

According to the 41-page complaint filed with the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for Mindanao in Sta. Ana, Davao City on June 18, 2024, the former officials approved the resolution confirming the donations of properties, equipment, and supplies belonging to the provincial government in favor of other local government units (LGUs) and agencies just before Governor-elect Rosalina Jalosjos assumed office in June 2022.

The complaint stated that “the delivery services of the current administration have been severely hampered,” and multiple projects have been delayed due to the lack of service vehicles and heavy equipment.

The complainants criticized the 2019-2022 Sangguniang Panlalawigan Board members for holding several sessions to “hastily pass resolutions” to confirm the donations of properties, supplies, and equipment belonging to the provincial government worth at least P925 million in favor of other LGUs and agencies.

They said in a matter of four weeks, a total of 68 resolutions, including 34 in one day, had been approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan from May 2022 to June 2022.

According to the complainants, some of the donated properties were obtained through loans from financial institutions and are yet to be fully paid by the provincial government.

They added that the Commission on Audit (COA) released an Audit Observation Memorandum dated January 19, 2023, citing that “COA was never apprised of the transfer of any real property in favor of any government agency nor was any request submitted to them, thus no approval was given.”

The COA reportedly recommended the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to revoke the resolutions that failed to comply with the procedural requirements for transfer.