COTABATO, Philippines – Cotabato City Mayor Mohammad “Bruce” Matabalao and four other key city officials are facing plunder accusations in connection with the disbursement of funds intended to acquire lots for various local government projects.
A complaint was filed before the Office of the Ombudsman against Matabalao, City Accountant Primitivo Glimada Jr., City Treasurer Teddy Inta, City Budget Officer Regina Detalla, and City Planning and Development Coordinator Ma. Adela Fiesta.
The officials were also accused of malversation of public funds, and falsification of public documents.
The complaint was filed by Cotabato City councilors Marouf Pasawiran, Abdulrakim Usman, Hunyn Abu, Kusin Taha, Henjie Ali, and Datu Noriel Pasawiran, along with four city residents.
The complaint stemmed from the disbursement of a portion of the P1.104-billion loan secured by city hall from the Land Bank of the Philippines (P468 million) and the Development Bank of the Philippines (P636 million).
The DBP loan was intended to fund the purchase of lots for an economic zone, public markets, public terminals, cold storage facilities, ice plants, and other projects.
The complainants said that, according to a DBP statement, only P29.118 million was paid, leaving P89.415 million unaccounted for.
Over Brigada News FM-Cotabato, Matabalao denied the allegations, describing the complaint as politically motivated.
Matabalao said he is prepared to face charges, though he has not yet received any subpoena or notice from the ombudsman regarding the complaint.
He said the local government has complete documentation to prove the allegations are false. He said the bank transactions cannot be manipulated, as they are automatically deducted from 20% of the National Tax Allocation (NTA). – Rappler.com