Mayor files charges vs Ciac president

MAYOR Jerry Pelayo of Candaba, Pampanga, on Thursday filed graft charges against the Clark International Airport Corp. president and chief executive officer, Victor Jose Luciano, before the Ombudsman today at the Office of the Ombudsman.

Pelayo said that Luciano violated Republic Act 3019 or the Antigraft and Corrupt Practices Act and must be also held liable for dishonesty and malversation of public funds or property under Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code.

Two others joined Pelayo in filing the case—Angel Manalo, who represents the Santa Maria Dapdap, Mawaque Farmers Association and Jose Paguinto, president of the Municipal Agricultural and Fisheries Council of Candaba, Pampanga.

The other respondents in the case are Ciac officers Silverio Clemente and Ruel Angeles, Clark Development Authority officials Arnel Pineda and Tarcicius Tiotuyco; the president of the Office of the Tribal Chieftains, Oscar Dizon; the president of the Bamban Aeta Tribal Association Inc. Oscar Rivera, and Josie Gomez and Antonio Castro, both private individuals.

“Public office is a public trust,” Pelayo stressed. “It was scandalous for us to find out that Luciano treated the facilities of Clark as if it were his private property. Was his very high salary not enough?” he asked.

In a 12-page complaint, Pelayo narrated that Luciano caused the demolition of seventeen economically repairable and serviceable buildings owned by the government worth P100 million.

“These demolished facilities could have been used as dormitories for employees who work in various enterprises inside Clark, as training centers and as agricultural food hubs for both domestic and foreign markets.

“As a matter of fact, if these buildings were renovated instead, they could have been leased to locators and consequently would have brought much needed investments in the area,” Pelayo added.

A Fact-Finding Committee report attached to the complaint also stated that, “the demolitions were undertaken without the benefit of public biddings and without having to account to the government the proceeds thereof.”

The Fact-Finding Committee is composed of the members of the Ciac board of directors including Nestor Mangio, Rafael Angeles and Jesus Nicdao.

Hearings-meetings-interviews were conducted by the committee from June 7 to 21.

“Further, Luciano and his cohorts used the Aeta community to cover their malversation. According to the report, they purportedly and generously donated to the Aeta groups the said buildings. However, out of the P100 million total value of the demolition proceeds, the Aeta community received sacks of rice only.” Pelayo added in his complaint.

“It is time that Luciano is made accountable for demolitions without documents, for grave abuse of discretion and dishonesty. The complainants, the Ciac board and the farmers are asking: Where is the money? Where is the beef?” Pelayo said.

Written by Joel Mapiles / Correspondent