ILOILO – The Provincial Legal Office welcomed the graft complaint filed against Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. by former provincial administrator Manuel Mejorada.
But according to Atty. Dennis Ventilacion, provincial legal officer, the charge was a recycled issue. He recalled a similar complaint filed against Defensor in 2013 by former 2nd District congressman Augusto Syjuco Jr. and Dumangas mayor Ronaldo Golez that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) dismissed.
Thursday last week Mejorada filed a complaint against Defensor at the Office of the Ombudsman for alleged technical malversation of public funds; violation of Section 3 (e) and (g) of Republic Act No. 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) and violation of Section 1 (2) of Comelec Resolution No. 9585, series of 2012.
According to Mejorada, the provincial government under Defensor released during the 2013 election campaign period over P17 million in financial, educational, burial, and medical assistance.
The disbursements, he added, “came from the Disbursement Acceleration Program that the Supreme Court ruled as illegal and unconstitutional, making these expenditures a violation of Article 220, of the Revised Penal Code.”
“We welcome the filing of the complaint para mapamatud-a naton kon ma-hold water ang iya teoriya nga gina-akusar kay Governor Defensor. Kon madumdoman naton in 2013 nag-file former congressman Syjuco sang kaso sa amo man nga subject matter. Na-dismiss man sang Comelec with finality,” said Ventilacion.
Defensor himself shrugged off the complaint.
“Indi salapakon si Mejorada. He is a paid hack. Nagahambal, buyayaw kag pato-pato sa akon kay ginabayaran. He is only trying to earn a living but he has lost credibility as a journalist,” said Defensor.
According to Mejorada, Defensor caused “undue injury to the government” and gave “unwarranted benefits to thousands of beneficiaries” in releasing what he described as election dole-outs for the governor’s re-election bid in the May 13, 2013 election.
Mejorada said this was a violation of Section 3 of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
Defensor violated the “election ban on the spending of public funds during the 45-day campaign period,” he claimed.
Aside from graft, Mejorada also accused Defensor of grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, gross neglect of duty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
“Let him do his worst,” said Defensor. “Kadamo-damo na sang ginpang-akusar ‘ya. Pero imbes simpatiya, sia pa ang ginakondenar.”/PN
