Abra political clan, others face P134-M plunder, graft raps

Plunder and graft charges worth almost P134 million were filed Tuesday with the Office of the Ombudsman against members of a political family in the northern Philippine province of Abra. The 26-page complaint was filed by Bernadine Joson, municipal planning and development coordinator and concurrent secretary to the Sangguniang Bayan of the Municipality of Lagayan. Among those named as respondents to Joson’s complaint were former Lagayan Mayor and former Abra Rep. Cecilia Searas Luna, as well as her son Jendricks Seares Luna — also a former Lagayan mayor and current president of the Association of Barangay Captains in Lagayan. Joson accused Cecilia of "plundering" P56.19 million during her tenure as mayor from 2003 to 2007..." The money that remained unaccounted for was supposed to cover the salaries and other benefits of municipal employees. Jendricks was also accused of violating Republic Act No. 7080 or the Anti-Plunder Act for "systematically squandering" at least P77.71 million in public funds when he assumed the mayoral post from his mother from 2007 to 2010. "[K]ey members of a political family in a small far-flung, underdeveloped town in Abra, over a period of a little more than a decade, in the absence of a viable system of checks and balances, has been raiding and plundering the town’s coffers," according to the complaint. "The plunder committed by mother and son take[n] together from the years 2003 to 2010 amounts to total of at least Php 133, 907, 142.24," Joson claimed. Another respondent, Cecilia's daughter and Lagayan Vice Mayor Lara Haya Seares Luna, was charged with violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and the Code of Ethic for Public Officials and Employees for her alleged "chronic absenteeism" while in office. Cecilia's distant cousin, 82-year-old Lagayan Mayor Purificacion Paingan, was also charged with graft and corruption "for grave misconduct, dereliction of duty and gross negligence for allowing Jendricks S. Luna to take over the helm of the municipality and continue his plunder of the town coffers, this time, as a barangay captain." Municipal officials also charged Aside from the members of the Seares-Luna family and Paingan, also charged were three other municipal officials. "The plundering ways of Cecilia Seares Luna and Jendricks Seares Luna could not have been made possible without the willing and active cooperation of the following persons, namely: Municipal Treasurer Marissa G. Donato, Municipal Accountant Meno C. Dickenson and Municipal Engineer Osborne P. Dolaoen," the complainant said. Joson said despite knowing about the Lunas' alleged practice of "dipping" their hands into the salaries and benefits of municipal employees, she did not dare question it at the time knowing any attempt would only become "futile." "Mayor Cecilia would always tell me: ‘Wait until you become mayors too! Gawin niyo rin kung anong gusto niyo kapag kayo na ang mayor!’" the complainant said. Joson claimed she had endured many indignities and humiliation from the Luna family while serving in the local government office, but it was on May 6, 2011 that she decided to call it quits when Jendricks humiliated her once more during an "emergency meeting" in front all municipal officials and employees. During the meeting, Jendricks allegedly blasted at Joson over a resolution — in which Joson's signature was included — seeking the immediate transfer and replacement of Donato. The Lunas blamed Joson for the resolution, but she maintained her signature was "forged." "You authored this, you’re the only one who knows the budget of the municipality, since my mother’s time, you’re the only one who had been showing off her smarts and complaining about salary and benefits. You’re shit, you’ re a slut! If you don’t solve it yourself, you watch out!" Jendricks allegedly told Joson. "This was the last straw for me. It was there that I declared to myself it is time to put a stop to all the years of humiliation and indignities. Thus, I decided to speak out against the reign of greed and terror of the Lunas in Lagayan," Joson said. — VS, GMA News