Graft, breach of conduct raps filed vs ex-Pasig mayor, wife, other local officials
Published Sep 25, 2019 02:10 pm
By Czarina Nicole Ong-Ki
Graft and breach of conduct raps have been filed against former Pasig City mayor Robert “Bobby” Eusebio, his wife Maribel Andaya-Eusebio, and several local officials Wednesday morning before the Office of the Ombudsman for using public funds to fuel the political campaign of Maribel.
Office of the Ombudsman (MANILA BULLETIN)
The complaint for violation of Section 3(e) of R.A. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and Sections 5 and 7 of R.A. 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials were filed against Eusebio, Andaya-Eusebio, as well as City Council members Rodrigo Asilo, Gregorio Rupisan Jr., Rhichie Gerard Brown, Orlando Benito, Regino Balderama, Rosalio Martires, Ferdinand Avis, Wilfredo Sityar, and Iyo Christian Bernardo.
Also included in the complaint were Acting City Council Secretary Reynaldo San Buenaventura and Pamplona Mayor Augustus Caesar Cruz of Camarines Sur.
As early as March 1, 2018, it was already announced that Andaya-Eusebio will run as 2nd District Representative of Camarines Sur, while her brother, Rolando Andaya Jr., will run as governor. The latter's wife, Marissa Mercado-Andaya, on the other hand, will run as 1st District Representative.
Because of this, the City of Pasig entered into a sisterhood agreement with Pamplona, Camarines Sur on May 3. Andaya-Eusebio, who is not even a local official, conducted a medical mission. The complaint said this was part of her political campaign.
On August 22, Eusebio signed a disbursement voucher covering the donation of P25 million to the municipality of Pamplona. His wife took the lead during the turnover, and the streamer for the event stated that the donation was "made [through) the effort of Arch. Maribel Andaya-Eusebio."
"Customarily, the check should have been awarded by the mayor, any elected official of Pasig City, the City Treasurer or any legitimate official of Pasig City," the complaint stated. "Andaya-Eusebio is neither an elective nor an appointive official at the time of the delivery of the check."
The complaint added that the respondents disbursed the P25 million to Pamplona "with no apparent purpose but to prop up the partisan political designs of respondent Andaya-Eusebio." Her candidacy was eventually stopped by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).
Worth noting is that there was no written acceptance on the part of the municipality of Pamplona, which rendered the donation void pursuant to Article 748 of the Civil Code.
"There is no clear reason why the respondent officials of the City of Pasig would choose the municipality of Pamplona for a sisterhood arrangement," the complaint said. "No benefit for Pasig City is indicated."
Individuals from the Tambuli Ng Mamamayan Ng Pasig Inc., who filed the complaint, want the respondents charged both criminally and administratively, with perpetual disqualification from holding public office. Those who are incumbent public officials should be preventively suspended.
Office of the Ombudsman (MANILA BULLETIN)
The complaint for violation of Section 3(e) of R.A. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and Sections 5 and 7 of R.A. 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials were filed against Eusebio, Andaya-Eusebio, as well as City Council members Rodrigo Asilo, Gregorio Rupisan Jr., Rhichie Gerard Brown, Orlando Benito, Regino Balderama, Rosalio Martires, Ferdinand Avis, Wilfredo Sityar, and Iyo Christian Bernardo.
Also included in the complaint were Acting City Council Secretary Reynaldo San Buenaventura and Pamplona Mayor Augustus Caesar Cruz of Camarines Sur.
As early as March 1, 2018, it was already announced that Andaya-Eusebio will run as 2nd District Representative of Camarines Sur, while her brother, Rolando Andaya Jr., will run as governor. The latter's wife, Marissa Mercado-Andaya, on the other hand, will run as 1st District Representative.
Because of this, the City of Pasig entered into a sisterhood agreement with Pamplona, Camarines Sur on May 3. Andaya-Eusebio, who is not even a local official, conducted a medical mission. The complaint said this was part of her political campaign.
On August 22, Eusebio signed a disbursement voucher covering the donation of P25 million to the municipality of Pamplona. His wife took the lead during the turnover, and the streamer for the event stated that the donation was "made [through) the effort of Arch. Maribel Andaya-Eusebio."
"Customarily, the check should have been awarded by the mayor, any elected official of Pasig City, the City Treasurer or any legitimate official of Pasig City," the complaint stated. "Andaya-Eusebio is neither an elective nor an appointive official at the time of the delivery of the check."
The complaint added that the respondents disbursed the P25 million to Pamplona "with no apparent purpose but to prop up the partisan political designs of respondent Andaya-Eusebio." Her candidacy was eventually stopped by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).
Worth noting is that there was no written acceptance on the part of the municipality of Pamplona, which rendered the donation void pursuant to Article 748 of the Civil Code.
"There is no clear reason why the respondent officials of the City of Pasig would choose the municipality of Pamplona for a sisterhood arrangement," the complaint said. "No benefit for Pasig City is indicated."
Individuals from the Tambuli Ng Mamamayan Ng Pasig Inc., who filed the complaint, want the respondents charged both criminally and administratively, with perpetual disqualification from holding public office. Those who are incumbent public officials should be preventively suspended.