City officials face another graft raps over dumpsite acquisition
BACOLOD CITY – Another graft case has been lodged against city government officials relative to the acquisition of a 7-hectare property in Brgy. Felisa for a new dumpsite.
The case was filed by Sarah Teresa S. Esguerra of Purok Malipayon, Barangay 12. Esguerra contends that city officials conspired or have committed an unholy alliance in procuring the questioned property deliberately causing injury to the city of Bacolod.
Named as respondents in the complaint are: Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson and ten Sangguniang Panglungsod members including City Legal Officer Atty. Allan Zamora, City Assessor Atty. Maphilindon Polvora, City Treasurer Annabelle Badajos, Teresita Guadalupe, Bids and Awards Committee chairman Atty. Goldwyn Nifras and Dynasty Agricultural Corporatiom represented by Ester A. Lopez.
Esguerra alleged that the dumpsite in Brgy. Felisa is very expensive compared to the offered lots of Atty. Leon Moya valued at P80 per square meter. The Brgy. Felisa property was acquired at a cost of P340 per square meter.
Based on the documents of Atty. Moya, the lot he offered for sale is situated in Brgy. Cabug with a deep landfill. Said lot had been inspected and assessed by the Geological Assessment Team of the DENR in 1999 as an ideal sanitary landfill of the city.
Esguerra claimed that City Councilor Greg Gasataya kept the letter-offer of Atty. Leon Moya and did not endorse it to the SP for discussion.
On the other hand, City Assessor Maphilindo Polvora insisted that the zonal valuation of P400 per square meter is correct because the area is residential and not agricultural as claimed by Esguerra.
He further said that he can justify all this claims because the appraisal committee unanimously approved the price and endorsed it to the Local Chief Executive for discussion.
Leonardia yesterday along with City Legal Officer Atty. Zamora refused to comment because they have not yet received the copy of Esguerra's complaint.
Earlier, Othello Ramos also filed graft charges against the same city officials relative to the transaction.