BATANGAS TOWN MAYOR FACES COMPLAINTS AT OMBUDSMAN OVER ALLEGED DELAYED INFRA PROJECTS

THE People’s Coalition Against Crime and Corruption Group (PCACC) on Tuesday filed charges before the Office of the Ombudsman against a local chief executive in Batangas over alleged mishandling and delayed infrastructure projects.

Antonio Alabata, PCACC representative, filed complaints of violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-graft and Corrupt Practices Act, gross inexcusable negligence, grave misconduct and violation of the Government Procurement Reform Act or Republic Act 9184 against Mataas na Kahoy, Batangas Mayor Janet Ilagan.

“Kami po’y nagsampa ng kaso sa ating Ombudsman dahil sa hindi angkop na paggamit ng kaban ng bayan. Ito po’y people’s money na kung saan ay dapat napupunta sa tao,” Alabata said. 

“Ang mga proyekto ay kasalukuyang hindi pa tapos at nakatengga. Ito po’y nakakaalarma,” he added.

Ilagan is the wife of Mataas na Kahoy Vice Mayor Jay Ilagan, one of the Batangas province’ gubernatorial candidates in the next year’s mid-term polls.

Alabata said the Advocacy against Crime and Corruption Group accused the Mataas na Kahoy mayor of allegedly mishandling, delayed and  unimplemented projects as of December 31, 2022, funded out of the 20 percent development fund with total appropriations of P22, 391,812.87. 

He explained that they have found out that 11 projects worth P22,392,812.87 are not completed yet, including four infrastructure projects like buildings, and road repairs are ongoing implementation or delayed while the remaining seven projects were not implemented as of the yearend.

Verification of the 20 percent development fund utilization report and quarterly report on government programs, projects, and activities (PPAs) as of December 31, 2022 showed that the municipality was able to implement only 14 out of 25 PPA’s, the complainant said