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. Lim, along with other Manila officials were said to falsified receipts worth P221, 250.00 in order to carry out a non-existent local affair to acquire money. The graft charges against Lim and his colleagues were filed by the Mayor's former legal adviser, Reynaldo L. Bagatsing. In his sworn affidavit, Bagatsing requested for the Ombudsman to place the officials under preventive suspension.
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. According to Bagatsing, the falsification of the said receipts were related to the fabricated assembly known as the Barangay Peace Keeping Action Team, which was allegedly spearheaded by the Barangay Bureau in all barangays in Manila last August 27, 2009.
Bagatsing outlined in his complaint how this Manila government anomaly came into fruition. Accordingly, during the reimbursement process, the officials allegedly turn in a voucher indicating that 5,500 pieces of cheeseburgers were consumed by the participants in the fabricated assembly. 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. To make matters worse based from the inspection report filed on October 19, 2009, which was certified by Cecilia V. Sican, Inspector of the City General Services Office (CGSO), the original receipt numbers provided by the burger joint were 0066 and 0067, a far cry from the receipts and reimbursement voucher handed by the perpetrators to the city treasurer of Manila which were 0214 and 0215.
Due to the receipt forgeries done by the Manila officials, the sum of P221, 250.00 was obtained from the city treasurer of Manila during the reimbursement process. All the evidences gathered by the complainant apparently shows that the officials violated articles 217 and 171 of the revised penal code or the malversation of public funds property and falsification by public officer, employee or notary or ecclesiastical minister respectively. 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 taken into consideration that the amount disembursed and reimbursed by the officials surmount the required amount indicated by Section 367 of R.A. 7160, which specifically points that only P150, 000.00 should be allotted for the procurement of supplies in one month period for all local units of Metropolitan Manila area.
The former legal counsel of Alfredo Lim brought him into charges as he was represented in the said transaction by his secretary Rafaelito Garayblas. Lim's secretary signed the false and manufactured documents, thereby giving his authority and consent among the Manila officials who oversee the fruition of this illegal transaction. 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 just around the corner, political candidates are vigilant about their actions so as not get themselves involved with illegal activities. Mayor Alfredo Lim, like any other government official, was placed in the position because people trust him. Yet, with the ongoing issues of illegal activities under his belt could negatively affect the trust that the public gave him. It is therefore an imperative for these officials to clarify this issue so as not to tarnish the reputations that they have taken care off for a long time.
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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