Arrest warrants set vs ex- Tarlac mayor, 4 others on P23-M cemetery anomaly

By Nelson Bolos

MAYANTOC, Tarlac – The Ombudsman barred Mayantoc former mayor Tito Razalan and four other high ranking town officials barred from holding public office following P23 million anomalous construction of the public cemetery here.

The decision of the Ombudsman was based on administrative case filed against Razalan and his four co–accused relative to the construction of the public cemetery in 2009.

Alsoindicted by the Ombudsman were Rodolfo Corpuz, former municipal engineer; Nilda Salazar, municipal treasurer; Florence Bueno, budget officer and Marilene Bedania, administrative officer.

“Records show that Corpuz and Razalan facilitated the release of the payment amounting to P23,048,230.15 to JQG Construction by issuing the certificate of project acceptance and certificate of project completion which was found to be incomplete and inoperational,” the Ombudsman said. 

The Ombudsman added Razalan approved and instructed the release of payments to the contractor without securing certification of the municipal accountant on “completeness of the project and of the supporting documents”.

Though Razalan and Corpuz are no longer in office, their dismissal will be converted into a fine equivalent to their salary for one year.

The ombudsman said a total of P23,048,230.15 was paid to JQG despite the project was not  complete and non-operational and the payment to the contractor was made without a certification of the municipal accountant.

On ocular inspection, there were several cracks on the cemetery’s concrete roads, fencing and other facilities.

The cemetery, Mayantoc Memorial Park, was a project implemented during the mayoral term of Razalan in 2008 and was funded from a loan from the Land Bank of the Philippines.

The Ombudsman has already issued a decision on the criminal case against Razalan and his co-accused which found them liable under the Anti-Graft and Corruption Act.

The Sandiganbayan is set to issue a warrant of arrest for Razalan and his co-accused.

Sought for comment, Mayor Iluminado Pobre said, “justice has been served to the people of Mayantoc. They (Razalan and four co-accused) have to pay the consequences of their wrong doing”.