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 officials include 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 noted in his affidavit that Lim and the other officials altered the original receipts given by Angel's Burger House during their transaction. 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.
In what appears to be another Manila government anomaly, Lim's former legal counsel described in detail how the illegal activity took place. It was said in the statement that in the reimbursement voucher presented by the officials, it was written that 5,500 pieces of cheeseburgers were consumed by the participants in the assembly. Bagatsing took note that a small burger joint like that of Angel's is not capable of producing such large number of orders, as deliveries like that could be finished in 15 days. 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. 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). Section 367 of R.A. 7160 stipulates that procurement of any supplies by all the local units of Manila area must not exceed to P150, 000.00 in any one month, which apparently was not followed by the involved officials.
The former legal counsel of Alfredo Lim brought him into charges as he was represented in the said 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. Lim may not have directly signed the said documents, but it must be taken into account that the authorization of his secretary also means that he unscrupulous act was done with his consent. Likewise, as Garayblas is Lim's subordinate, it is understandable that the mayor was informed about the 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, like any other government official, was placed in the position because people trust him. However, the alleged illegal activity that he and his allies were involved with can affect the trust that the people have given him. Therefore, it would be best for these officials to clarify the surrounding issues in order to shed light to the questions 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.
Seven other Manila officials were implicated by Bagatsing in the said anomaly. The seven officials include 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 noted in his affidavit that Lim and the other officials altered the original receipts given by Angel's Burger House during their transaction. 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.
In what appears to be another Manila government anomaly, Lim's former legal counsel described in detail how the illegal activity took place. It was said in the statement that in the reimbursement voucher presented by the officials, it was written that 5,500 pieces of cheeseburgers were consumed by the participants in the assembly. Bagatsing took note that a small burger joint like that of Angel's is not capable of producing such large number of orders, as deliveries like that could be finished in 15 days. 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. 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). Section 367 of R.A. 7160 stipulates that procurement of any supplies by all the local units of Manila area must not exceed to P150, 000.00 in any one month, which apparently was not followed by the involved officials.
The former legal counsel of Alfredo Lim brought him into charges as he was represented in the said 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. Lim may not have directly signed the said documents, but it must be taken into account that the authorization of his secretary also means that he unscrupulous act was done with his consent. Likewise, as Garayblas is Lim's subordinate, it is understandable that the mayor was informed about the 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, like any other government official, was placed in the position because people trust him. However, the alleged illegal activity that he and his allies were involved with can affect the trust that the people have given him. Therefore, it would be best for these officials to clarify the surrounding issues in order to shed light to the questions 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.
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