Ombudsman files raps vs LRA exec and Laguna ex-treasurer

The Office of the Ombudsman has just ordered the filing of charges against an official of the Land and Registration Authority (LRA) and a former city treasurer in Laguna in two separate resolutions. Criminal charges against Alberto Lingayo Sr., acting chief of the LRA's Ordinary and Cadastral Decree Division, and his wife, Bella de Belen, a former Land Registration Examiner in the same agency, are finally pushing through after Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez denied the couple's motion for reconsideration in a 15-page order. Three years ago, the couple asked Gutierrez to reverse her August 31, 2007 resolution, which recommended the filing of eight counts of perjury after they failed to disclose their entire properties in their Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN). In the same 2007 resolution, the couple were also ordered to be charged with violation of Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. The LRA is an agency under the Department of Justice. The Ombudsman also called for the forfeiture of their alleged illegally amassed wealth. Results of investigation An investigation conducted by the Office of the Ombudsman showed that Lingayo and de Belen accumulated unexplained wealth amounting to P14.7 million, despite having a combined total salary of only P2.04 million. The couple's acquired assets include several parcels of land worth P5.4 million, three speedboats worth P1.1 million, fishing equipments worth P1.05 million, jewelry and furniture worth P2.2 million, and several luxury vehicles including a Nissan Cefiro, Ford Explorer and a 2004 model Ford Escape. "There is an overwhelming evidence to show that the respondent-spouses have been living an ostentatious lifestyle, which is not commensurate to their positions and salaries as public officers," Gutierrez said. The Ombudsman also said that the couple also failed to declare in their SALN several real properties in Novaliches and Bulacan; investments at Outdoor Sports, Inc.; and the capital of their surveying business. "[This was] in flagrant violation of RA 6713... [And] since the deliberate omission is made under oath, before a competent officer authorized to administer oath, they can also be held liable for Perjury," Gutierrez said in her resolution. Laguna treasurer Meanwhile, Gutierrez also ordered the filing of three counts of malversation charges against Angelita Belen, former City Treasurer of San Pablo City in Laguna. The case stemmed from a complaint filed by the Commission on Audit (COA) alleging that Belen, Revenue Collection Officer III Marivi Velasco, and Cashier VI Arjan Babani illegally appropriated P277,340 worth of government funds. The COA said Belen borrowed P70,000 and P55,000 in December 2005 and March 2006. She later issued bouncing checks, and only settled her liabilities for both amounts on March 4 and 7, 2006. "Clearly, there was bad faith and an intention on her part to defraud the government. Her subsequent settlement or payment of the amount borrowed would not in anyway exculpate her from criminal liability," the Ombudsman said in an 18-page resolution. Also, the COA said the P150,000 check Belen issued to a fastfood joint owned by a certain "Pacquito" was dishonored due to insufficiency of funds. The COA said the payment was for Belen's "personal obligation" with the fastfood on electric consumption fees. While Belen was charged, the two other individuals - Velasco and Babani - linked to the irregularity were both reprimanded. The Ombudsman said that Velasco - who released the money to Belen - became an instrument for Belen "to use and benefit from the public funds." As for Babani, the Ombudsman reprimanded him for "never making the proper action" to demand Belen to settle her liabilities when her checks bounced. - TJD, GMANews.TV