FORMER Caloocan Mayor Reynaldo Malonzo on Thursday filed a complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman against Rep. Dean Asistio of the city’s third district.
Malonzo, who accused Asistio and his co-respondents of graft and malversation, said records showed “that substantial government funds were released for projects that” were non-existent, grossly deficient or substandard, and “unsupported by credible and consistent proof of accomplishment.”
Also named in the complaint were Ruel Umali, Fermerindo Angelo Besabe, Florita Villanueva, Dan Rupert Cham, Romanito Juatco, Mark Allan Arevalo, and Roland Radcliffe Imperio.
Asistio denied there was ghost projects in his district. “All projects went through the proper process and implementation,” he said in a Facebook post.
The projects Malonzo cited included the rehabilitation of roads and drainage in Barangay 187 for P6.74 million; construction of a flood control structure in Barangay 187 (P19.2 million); a road construction project in Barangay 159 (P11.72 million), and the construction of several multipurpose buildings.
The contracts, Malonzo alleged, were “manifestly and grossly disadvantageous to the” government, “as evidenced by the stark disparity between the amounts released and the absence or insufficiency of actual project deliverables.”
Malonzo said Umali “bears primary accountability. His position vested upon him the duty to ensure that public funds are disbursed only for legitimate and properly implemented projects. His approval of disbursements despite patent irregularities constitutes either intentional misappropriation or gross negligence tantamount to malversation.”
Malonzo said Asistio was “liable as a co-conspirator. His repeated public association with the projects, as evidenced by tarpaulins and project signages, and the fact that the projects were implemented within his congressional district, strongly indicate his participation in the identification, endorsement, and facilitation of funding.”
Malonzo said the contractors were “equally liable” as co-conspirators. “By executing the contracts, certifying accomplishments, and receiving payment despite evident irregularities, they actively participated in the unlawful scheme,” he said.
