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THE vice
governor of Nueva Ecija on Tuesday filed criminal and
administrative charges against Gov. Aurelio Umali, his
wife and three others before the Ombudsman.
In his
complaint-affidavit, Vice Gov. Edward Thomas Joson cited
three cases against the governor, one each against
Umali’s wife, Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino Rep.
Czarina Umali of Nueva Ecija; consultant Ferdinand
Abesamis; provincial administrator Alejandro Abesamis
and provincial treasurer Edilberto Pancho.
The five
were accused of violating the Antigraft and Corrupt
Practices Act, the Local Government Code and the
Administrative Code.
Joson’s
complaint claimed that the hiring of Edgardo Rillon as
provincial information officer was illegal because his
appointment was already disapproved by the Civil Service
Commission (CSC) and yet he was still hired.
And
instead of Umali filing a motion for reconsideration for
Rillon, it was the latter who went to the court and
filed a motion for reconsideration for himself.
Rillon,
the vice governor said, is still receiving his salary
despite the CSC order.
The next
case was the alleged overpriced purchase of the 93
multicab minivans that were distributed to barangays.
Joson
said the Nueva Ecija government bought the vehicles at
the amount of P176,200 each.
However,
the same supplier, which the vice governor identified as
HCK Motors, provided him with a quotation showing that
the vehicles were only worth P135,000 each with free
registration.
The
third case was the appointment of lawyer Ferdinand
Abesamis as the capitol’s consultant, which Joson said
was a violation of the Local Government Code since he (Abesamis)
has been dismissed from the government service during
the time of former President Joseph Estrada.
According to Joson, Abesamis, despite being a
consultant, was given the authority to run the capitol
and was given a salary of P27,000 monthly.
Umali’s
wife was included in the alleged multicab irregularity
for donating P5 million of her countrywide development
fund in the purchase of the vehicles. |
