Samar Governor Faces Plunder Charge (finally)

**RedHorse** · February 28th, 2005 05:44 AM

Samar gov, other top provincial execs face plunder charges
By Miriam Garcia Desacada
The Philippine Star 02/28/2005

CATBALOGAN, Samar — In what could be a precedent, almost all the top Samar provincial officials, except for the vice governor, are facing plunder charges in the Office of the Ombudsman.

In two separate orders both dated Jan. 24, Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo directed Gov. Milagros Tan, former vice governor Ernesto Arcales, the 13 members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and seven provincial officials to submit their counter-affidavits. Excluded in the case is incumbent Vice Gov. Jesus Redaja.

Besides the criminal case of plunder, all 12 respondents are facing administrative charges of grave misconduct, dishonesty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

The charges stemmed from the complaint of the Isog han Samar Movement, represented by Fr. Noel Labendia of the Diocese of Calbayog City, which accused Tan and the other provincial officials of having "conspired and confederated" in allegedly defrauding the people of their money.

The 13 provincial board members are Felix Babalcon Jr., Fe Arcales, Jimmy Dy, Juan Latorre Jr., Maria Lourdes Uy, Bienvenida Repol, Susano Salurio, Ramon Dean Jr., Animir Manatad, Bartolome Castillo III, Bartolome Figueroa, Zenaida Rosales and Antonio Bolastig III.

The seven provincial officials named as respondents are provincial treasurer Damiano Conde, provincial accountant Romeo Reales, provincial budget officer Maximo Sison, general services officer Aurelio Bardaje, GSO record and inspection officer Numeriano Legaspi, administrative officer Rolando Montejo and budget office representative Rosie Villacorte.

Also included in the plunder case are three provincial suppliers, namely Lugwig Lao of M&J Hardware, Alberto Tan of Tan King Mega Steel, and Reynaldo Tabut of Raechell’s Shopper’s Plaza, all based in Catbalogan.

Last October, several non-government and people’s organizations, in a letter-complaint to the Ombudsman, accused Tan and other provincial officials of alleged plunder.

The groups cited a Commission on Audit (COA) report dated Aug. 13, 2004, covering the period Jan. 1, 2001 to April 2003, accusing the respondents of alleged overpricing in the purchase of P32.30 million worth of cement; P28.30 million worth of medicines, assorted goods and rice; P11.70 million worth of shirts and caps; and P1.6 million worth of electric fans, as well as alleged irregularities in financial assistance amounting to P8.10 million.

The STAR tried to reach Tan’s office to no avail. According to provincial employees, the governor does not hold office at the Capitol but reportedly transacts business in her residence in Barangay Mercedes, some five kilometers away from the Catbalogan town proper.

Board member Susano Salurio said the entire Sangguniang Panlalawigan had a caucus recently to discuss what steps to take and that they were still gathering evidence in connection with the plunder case.

Marcelo has also directed the respondents to submit the affidavits of their witnesses and supporting documents.

Marcelo coursed his orders through Jose de Jesus Jr., director of the Preliminary Investigation and Administrative Adjudication Bureau-A.

**cyberdoc95** · February 28th, 2005 10:26 AM

Finally, let heads start to roll from this time on. Alam naman natin na andaming mga politikong ganito sa atin. Sana ay panindigan na ni GMA to go after these unscrupulous politicians at sana ay tuloy-tuloy na ito. Hope they all crawl down to their prison cells to feel how it is to be a poor man and realize how much pain and suffering they have caused to millions of filipinos who can barely eat a single decent meal in a day!

For the rest of these politicians, your days are numbered!! Humanda na lang kayo lahat!