ROXAS City – Former Mayor Vicente Bermejo and former City Councilor Rolando Ignacio are facing corruption charges over alleged irregularities on the payment of a property in Brgy. Tanza here.
The City Council recently passed a resolution calling for the filing of charges against Bermejo and Ignacio, as recommended by the Committee on Good Government.
The two officials were allegedly involved in the purchase of a 5,000-square meter lot owned by Ernesto Dynangko Jr. and Ignacio.
According to the committee, Ignacio, as co-owner of the property, gave a special power of attorney to Dyangko.
Bermejo, on the other hand, asked the previous City Council to authorize him to sign the conditional sale of Dyangko and Ignacio’s property.
The City Council passed a resolution authorizing Bermejo to make the transaction. Ignacio, however, did not sign the resolution.
To pay for the property, Bermejo issued a memorandum authorizing Assistant City Accountant Alma Alba to sign the check in the absence of City Accountant Teresita Bediones.
Alba, the committee said, complied.
On the other hand, Bermejo, former Capiz governor, will face another charge for “unlawful detention and use” of three vehicles registered under the name of the city government.
These vehicles — two Mitsubishi Pajeros with plate numbers SHT 850 and SHT 860, and an Isuzu Elf Manlift truck with plate number SHW437 — were returned by Bermejo to the provincial government when he stepped down as mayor.
According to former Board member Enrique Martin, Bermejo bought these vehicles in Subic Bay using his personal money a week after the May 14, 2007 elections.
When he assumed office as city mayor in July 2007, Bermejo brought with him the three vehicles, including the Nissan Patrol that he had been using as governor, to the City Hall.
But according to Martin, the provincial government never approved the transfer of the vehicles to the city government.
Gov. Victor Tanco Sr., on the other hand, said the city government has no basis to retrieve the vehicles since these were bought by Bermejo when he was governor.
Provincial General Services Office (PGSO) Chief Eduardo Apa-ap said these vehicles have memorandum receipts and property issuance slips filed with the PGSO.
Apa-ap also said he will seek the opinion of the Commission on Audit and lawyer Jose Villanueva, provincial administrator and legal counsel, before making any decision regarding the vehicles’ custody. He also added that the vehicles are recorded on the provincial government’s Book of Property.
Naneth Deocampo, assistant LTO chief here, said the office has no records of the vehicle’s registration, and the only documents available are the renewal of their registration.
Celino earlier issued Executive Order (EO) No. 3, forming “Task Group: Pagbag-o” — a local version of President Benigno Aquino III’s Truth Commission — tasked to investigate Bermejo’s administration.
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