A Bacolod lawyer has filed a criminal and administrative complaint against Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. and two others before the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman (Visayas) for alleged violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Building Code of the Philippines, Government Procurement Reform Act, and for technical malversation.

Lawyer Roger Reyes also named Provincial Treasurer Nilda Generoso and Provincial Engineer Ernie Mapa in the complaint in connection with the purchase by the provincial government of land in Sta. Rosa, Murcia, Negros Occidental, for the Negros First Ranch, and the subsequent building of structures on it.

Marañon could not be reached for comment as of press time.

The complaint affidavit of Reyes, a copy of which was furnished the DAILY STAR yesterday, was received by the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman on May 15.

Reyes said Marañon signed and executed the deed of absolute sale acquiring the Sta. Rosa property for P41.2 million and Generoso released the amount. Mapa then constructed P10 million worth of improvements on the property, he added.

He alleged that the purchase and full payment of the property is null and void, since it is not exempted from the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law.

No DAR clearance was issued to legalize the sale and transfer of ownership of the three agricultural lots in favor of the provincial government, he said.

Generoso paid the registered owner for the property without the titles being transferred to the provincial government, he also claimed.

Then Mapa built structures on the property despite the fact that the property remains registered in the name of its private land owners, Reyes added. In effect the disbursement of funds for the construction under the office of Mapa constitutes technical malversation, he claimed.

Reyes also said Mapa constructed the buildings and structures without first securing building permits, in violation of the Building Code of the Philippines.

He claimed that no public bidding was conducted in the purchase of the property in violation of the Government Procurement Reform Act.

Reyes said it was the second complaint he has filed against the governor. The first was filed on Dec. 23, 2013 against the governor and Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena in connection with the purchase by the provincial government of 5,760 heads of sheep from Australia, estimated to cost P83.42 million, for alleged violation of the Anti Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Government Procurement Reform Act, and Anti Plunder Law.

The first complaint is undergoing fact-finding investigation at the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman in Cebu, he said.

Both the governor and Decena have denied the complaint lodged in connection with the purchase of the sheep.*CPG

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