Mayor Alfredo Lim is once again placed under public scrutiny after graft charges were filed against him before the Office of the Ombudsman last April 8, 2010. 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. Lim's former legal adviser, Reynaldo L. Bagatsing filed the graft charges against the Mayor and his allies. The complainant, in his affidavit, called forth for the Ombudsman to administer preventive suspension against the involved perpetrators.
Seven other Manila officials were implicated by Bagatsing 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. The plaintiff also said that the Manila officials conspired to make it appear that the Barangay Bureau held a city wide assembly called Barangay Peace Keeping Action Team last August 27, 2009, which Bagatsing have affirmed as a non-existent affair.
In what appears to be another Manila government anomaly, Lim's former legal counsel described in detail how the illegal activity took place. Specifically, it was claimed that the officials noted in the accompanying reimbursement voucher that the participants of the non-existent assembly consumed 5,500 pieces of cheeseburgers. What made Bagatsing suspicious of the said transaction was the idea that small burger joints like Angel's is not capable of producing 5,500 cheeseburgers in a day because it would normally take a small burger house 15 days to complete such order. 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).
Due to the forged documents presented by the officials to the city treasurer of Manila during the reimbursement process, they were able to obtain 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. Likewise, involved officials in this alleged Manila government anomaly failed to adhere to the required bidding process, making them liable for the violation of Section 367 of Republic Act. No. 7160 (R.A. 7160). It should be noted that the P221, 250.00 worth of reimbursement in this transaction exceeded the required amount stated under Section 367 of R.A. 7160, which particularly identified that the procurement of supplies should not exceed the amount of P 150, 000.00 for any items within a month for each of local unit, may it be first or second class cities within the Manila area.
Bagatsing included Mayor Alfredo Lim in his complaint as he was represented in the said illegal transaction by his secretary Rafaelito Garayblas. Garayblas notably signed the falsified documents with Lim's consent, which in turn gives the Manila officials the permission to facilitate the anomalous activities. Although Lim may not have directly signed in this anomalous activity, the mere fact that his secretary has authorized the existence of this corrupt practice with his knowledge makes him liable as well. Nonetheless, considering that Garayblas directly report to Lim, it is apparent that the Mayor condoned such transaction.
With the election already nearing, graft charges are the last thing that any person running for office would wish to be associated with. Mayor Alfredo Lim consistently won the trust of the publicly, which is why he is still in the office to date. However, the alleged illegal activity that he and his allies were involved with can affect the trust that the people have given him. For this reason alone, the officials involved in this allegation should take appropriate action for them not to lose the trust of the public.
Mayor Alfredo Lim and some of his allies are facing graft charges for violating the falsification and malversation law after they allegedly conspire to forge receipts from Angel's Burger House to procure government funds. Reynaldo Bagatsing presented several evidences against this Manila government anomaly, and called for the Ombudsman to place the officials under preventive suspension. Lim was involved in the lawsuit, as he was represented by his secretary Rafaelito Garayblas, who signed the false documents with his consent.
-Julius Arante
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