Ombudsman Asked to Stop Marinduque Loan Deal

Office of the Ombudsman, Quezon City

The Marinduque Reform Movement (MRM) yesterday asked Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales to stop the signing set today of the P300-million loan agreement between the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and the provincial government of Marinduque.

MRM president Eliseo Obligacion said that Marinduque Gov. Carmencita O. Reyes cannot sign the agreement because she was suspended on Oct. 8, 2015 by the Sandiganbayan.

Reyes’ suspension stemmed from Criminal Case Nos. SB-11-CRM-0100 and SB-11-CRM-0113 entitled “People vs. Carmencita Reyes” for technical malversation of P5 million and for directly awarding the contract for farm equipment to a favored supplier without public bidding, Obligacion said.

“According to a COA report, the provincial government still has surplus money amounting to P105 million in unexpended appropriations. Yet it still has an outstanding loan of P35 million as of December 2014, which has remained unpaid,” Obligacion said in his statement.

“Governor Reyes has the abovementioned pending criminal cases for technical malversation and for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act to be entrusted with such a huge loan which can just as easily be misused,’ he added.

Source and courtesy: Manila Bulletin