Last April 8, 2010, graft and corruption charges were filed against Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, placing him once again under public scrutiny. A non-existent local assembly was allegedly conspired by Lim and his allies and also falsified receipts, which is said to have costs the city of Manila worth P221, 250.00. Reynaldo L. Bagatsing, Lim's former legal adviser, was the one who filed the lawsuit. Bagatsing called for the Ombudsman to place the perpetrators in a preventive suspension.
Bagatsing also included seven other officials in the said anomaly. The seven were Atty. Rafaelito M. Garayblas, Atty. Analyn T. Marcelo-Buan, Maria Lourdes R. Malulu, Cherry Chao, Cecilia V. Sican, Leanie S. Sanding, and Vicky R. Valientes. Bagatsing pointed out that the said officials falsified the original receipts provided by Angel's Burger House. According to Bagatsing, the falsification of the said receipts were related to the fabricated assembly known as the Barangay Peace Keeping Action Team, which was allegedly spearheaded by the Barangay Bureau in all barangays in Manila last August 27, 2009.
Bagatsing outlined in his complaint how this Manila government anomaly came into fruition. It was said in the statement that in the reimbursement voucher presented by the officials, it was written that 5,500 pieces of cheeseburgers were consumed by the participants in the assembly. What truly bothered the complainant was the fact that such small burger outlet is not capable of producing 5, 500 cheeseburgers in one day, when in reality such delivery could have taken the said burger joint 15 days to complete. Adding up to this was the evidence presented by Bagatsing to support his claim""the inspection report filed on October 19, 2009, which showed that the original receipt numbers which were originally 0066 and 0067 were falsified to become 0214 and 0215, and was later on approved by the inspector, Cecilia V. Sican of the City General Services Office (CGSO).
The said forged copies that were presented to the city treasurer of Manila obtained the officials sum of P221, 250.00. As such this is a clear violation of article 217 of the revised penal code known as the malversation of public funds property, and article 171 or Falsification. This Manila government anomaly well exemplified that such release of government funds for liquidation associated with the alleged city wide Barangay Peace Keeping Action Team did not conduct the required bidding, proving that the officials failed to adhere to Section 367 of Republic Act No. 7160 (R.A. 7160), otherwise referred to as the local government code of 1991. It should be taken into consideration that the amount disembursed and reimbursed by the officials surmount the required amount indicated by Section 367 of R.A. 7160, which specifically points that only P150, 000.00 should be allotted for the procurement of supplies in one month period for all local units of Metropolitan Manila area.
Mayor Alfredo Lim was included in Bagatsing's lawsuit because he was represented by his secretary Rafaelito Garayblas. Because Garayblas certified the false and manufactured documents, it is believed that Lim, consented the illegal transaction. Lim may not have directly signed the said documents, but it must be taken into account that the authorization of his secretary also means that he unscrupulous act was done with his consent. Likewise, as Garayblas is Lim's subordinate, it is understandable that the mayor was informed about the transaction.
With the election just around the corner, political candidates are vigilant about their actions so as not get themselves involved with illegal activities. Mayor Alfredo Lim, like any other government official, was placed in the position because people trust him. However, this fraudulent transaction that he and his colleagues are allegedly involved with is a clear manifestation of betrayal of the public's trust. Therefore, it would be best for these officials to clarify the surrounding issues in order to shed light to the questions of the public.
Mayor Alfredo Lim, together with seven other Manila officials, was allegedly involved in another Manila government anomaly that is centered on the falsification and malversation of documents. Lim's former legal counsel, Reynaldo Bagatsing filed the lawsuit before the Ombudsman after he was able to secure evidences to support his claim about the involvement of the said officials and Angel's Burger House.
Bagatsing also included seven other officials in the said anomaly. The seven were Atty. Rafaelito M. Garayblas, Atty. Analyn T. Marcelo-Buan, Maria Lourdes R. Malulu, Cherry Chao, Cecilia V. Sican, Leanie S. Sanding, and Vicky R. Valientes. Bagatsing pointed out that the said officials falsified the original receipts provided by Angel's Burger House. According to Bagatsing, the falsification of the said receipts were related to the fabricated assembly known as the Barangay Peace Keeping Action Team, which was allegedly spearheaded by the Barangay Bureau in all barangays in Manila last August 27, 2009.
Bagatsing outlined in his complaint how this Manila government anomaly came into fruition. It was said in the statement that in the reimbursement voucher presented by the officials, it was written that 5,500 pieces of cheeseburgers were consumed by the participants in the assembly. What truly bothered the complainant was the fact that such small burger outlet is not capable of producing 5, 500 cheeseburgers in one day, when in reality such delivery could have taken the said burger joint 15 days to complete. Adding up to this was the evidence presented by Bagatsing to support his claim""the inspection report filed on October 19, 2009, which showed that the original receipt numbers which were originally 0066 and 0067 were falsified to become 0214 and 0215, and was later on approved by the inspector, Cecilia V. Sican of the City General Services Office (CGSO).
The said forged copies that were presented to the city treasurer of Manila obtained the officials sum of P221, 250.00. As such this is a clear violation of article 217 of the revised penal code known as the malversation of public funds property, and article 171 or Falsification. This Manila government anomaly well exemplified that such release of government funds for liquidation associated with the alleged city wide Barangay Peace Keeping Action Team did not conduct the required bidding, proving that the officials failed to adhere to Section 367 of Republic Act No. 7160 (R.A. 7160), otherwise referred to as the local government code of 1991. It should be taken into consideration that the amount disembursed and reimbursed by the officials surmount the required amount indicated by Section 367 of R.A. 7160, which specifically points that only P150, 000.00 should be allotted for the procurement of supplies in one month period for all local units of Metropolitan Manila area.
Mayor Alfredo Lim was included in Bagatsing's lawsuit because he was represented by his secretary Rafaelito Garayblas. Because Garayblas certified the false and manufactured documents, it is believed that Lim, consented the illegal transaction. Lim may not have directly signed the said documents, but it must be taken into account that the authorization of his secretary also means that he unscrupulous act was done with his consent. Likewise, as Garayblas is Lim's subordinate, it is understandable that the mayor was informed about the transaction.
With the election just around the corner, political candidates are vigilant about their actions so as not get themselves involved with illegal activities. Mayor Alfredo Lim, like any other government official, was placed in the position because people trust him. However, this fraudulent transaction that he and his colleagues are allegedly involved with is a clear manifestation of betrayal of the public's trust. Therefore, it would be best for these officials to clarify the surrounding issues in order to shed light to the questions of the public.
Mayor Alfredo Lim, together with seven other Manila officials, was allegedly involved in another Manila government anomaly that is centered on the falsification and malversation of documents. Lim's former legal counsel, Reynaldo Bagatsing filed the lawsuit before the Ombudsman after he was able to secure evidences to support his claim about the involvement of the said officials and Angel's Burger House.
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