Two former mayors of Mariveles, Bataan have been slapped with a complaint for graft, malversation, and usurpation of authority before the Office of the Ombudsman last Friday due to the reportedly irregular implementation of P32 million worth of infrastructure projects.
Ace Jello Concepcion and his father, Jesse Concepcion, are facing raps for violation of Section 3(e) of R.A. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code or malversation, and Article 177 of the RPC or usurpation of authority.
The group Mamamayan Ng Mariveles Laban Sa Kurapsyon Inc. (MMLK), led by its president Joseph Pereyra, said in the complaint that the father and son duo implemented 10 infrastructure projects amounting to P32 million without adhering to lawful procedures and documentary requirements, as required by R.A. 9184 or the Government Procurement Act.
They were accused of being partial to their favored contractor and pushing through with the projects even though there were no official contracts for the projects. Their chosen contractor's Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) Contractor’s License was even expired.
The projects were all done during Ace Jello Concepcion’s term as mayor; however, the MMLK said that it was Jesse who was calling all the shots as the latter published the Bid Notice Abstract - Invitation to Bid for the projects through the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS), where he falsely represented himself as the mayor of Mariveles.
"Jesse Concepcion and AJ Concepcion, in conspiracy with the contractor, have acted as if serving a public office was a personal (or) family affair - where a father can simply interfere in the procurement process, by knowingly and falsely representing himself as the mayor and contact person, during the time when his son was already the elected mayor," the complaint read.
AJ was mayor from 2016 to 2019 while his father served three terms from 2007 to 2016.
The Commission on Audit (COA) flagged these projects in its Annual Audit Report (AAR) for 2017, stating that "the procured infrastructure projects for CY 2017 lacked sufficient documents hence, the reliability of the procurement procedures and authenticity and correctness of payments made were doubtful."
The following were projects cited in the complaint:
1. Construction of two classrooms at MNHS Malaya High School in Brgy. Mayala worth P2.475 million
2. Construction of two-storey classroom phase 1 at Townsite Elementary School in Brgy. Townsite worth P3.46 million
3. Repair of the Grade 3 classrooms in AGLES, Brgy. Poblacion worth P1.484 million
4. Construction of Multi-Purpose Hall in Mt. View Elementary School, Brgy. Mt. View worth P4.95 million
5. Construction of covered court at MNHS Brgy. Batangas II worth P4.945 million
6. Construction of Day Care Center at Polaris, Brgy. Mt. View worth P1.783 million
7. Construction of retaining wall phase 2 at dumpsite, Brgy. Ipag worth P1.484 million
8. Closure and rehabilitation of the town dumpsite at Brgy. Ipag worth P6.918 million
9. Upgrading of street lights along Gen. Ricarte and Lakandula, Brgy. Poblacion worth P3.168 million
10. Renovation of the municipal hall perimeter fence worth P1.98 million.