BANGUED, Abra -- The
Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the dismissal of the mayor of Bangued for
approving the award of a printing service contract with companies owned by
their family.
In an 18-page
decision dated June 24 and released Tuesday, the anti-graft agency said Dominic
Valera and his wife Mila, the incumbent vice mayor, and three other municipal
government officials were found guilty of grave misconduct and conduct
prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
Valera was
also perpetually disqualified from holding public office.
The vice
mayor was suspended for one year.
The ombudsman
said acting municipal accountant Henry BodaƱo, acting treasurer Romie
Turqueza and budget officer Amelia Bersamira were also dismissed for opting
to “remain silent” when they could have stopped the illegal transaction.
The complaint
stemmed from the contract entered by the municipal government with Abra Petron
Service Center and DMJS Printing Shop worth around P1.9 million.
Graft probers
said Valera is the owner of Abra Petron, which was managed by his wife.
DMJS is owned
by their daughter Ma. Sylvia and her husband Jay.
The ombudsman
said the Valera couple “actively participated” in facilitating the transactions
with the municipal government and received the payments.
Valera’s acts
“tainted the image and integrity of his office and... showed his abuse of
authority,” the ruling read.
Ombudsman
Samuel Martires ordered the secretaries of the Departments of the Interior and
Local Government and Finance to implement the ruling.
No comments:
Post a Comment