Ombudsman orders:File raps vs ex-Kalinga mayor

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales on Thursday ordered the filing of criminal charges against a former mayor of Tabuk, Kalinga and his wife for allegedly extorting money from a contractor.

In a 17-page resolution, Morales approved the indictment of Camilo Lammawin Jr., former Mayor of Tabuk, and his wife, Salud Lammawin for direct bribery and graft and corruption.

Preliminary investigation showed the Lammawins allegedly extorted P520,000 from Rodman Corporation, a contractor of the Tabuk Water Supply Project, in exchange for the release of payments due to the contractor.

Complainant Susan Rodriguez, treasurer of Rodman Corporation, said that on July 10, 2002, P100,000 and P300,000 were deposited to the personal bank accounts of Mayor Lammawin and his wife.

Rodriguez also said that she deposited another P120,000 to Lammawin’s personal bank account on October 21, 2002.

The resolution found that the Lammawins were recipients of cash deposits made by the complainant as they failed to show sufficient proof of entitlement to the amounts deposited. 

It added that the “acts of the respondents showed conspiracy, in unity of mind and purpose, in extorting money from the complainant.”

Direct bribery is punishable under Article 210 of the Revised Penal Code.