Munti Mayor dismisses graft case against him and calls it politically motivated
Here is the statement of Muntinlupa Mayor Aldrin San Pedro in reference to a graft case filed against him recently:
“I have yet to receive a copy of a verified complaint reportedly filed against me by Councilor Ampaya [and a certain Amelita Argana] for alleged violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act in relation to the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
Be that as it may, the motives of the alleged Complainant, an incumbent Councilor, who is seeking re-election for the same office this May 2010, are already suspect considering foremost its timing. I suspect that it is politically motivated and, at the very least, intended to gain political mileage for his name and at my expense. I cannot recall that public funds were used for the reported travel.
Nonetheless, I will have to await receipt of a copy of the verified complaint for me, through counsel, to further comment on the matter.”
The graft case mentioned is different from the one filed by Ariel B. Dolleton wherein he included 24 other local officials for allegedly approving 11 questionable infrastructure projects worth P238.07 million in September 2007.
The officials had continually denied this accusation.
Muntinlupa City Mayor Aldrin San Pedro dismissed the graft case filed against him by the camp of his rival candidate, former Mayor Jaime Fresnedi, as “pure political machination” intended to gain for them media mileage.
“They (complainants) knew very well that no public funds were used in the travel of the DepEd officials,” San Pedro said, adding that graft case filed by opposition Councilor Allen Ampaya and a certain Amelita Argana was just part of the “demolition job” against him.
The two charged San Pedro of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for allegedly using government funds to cover the cost of travel of some 32 city and DepEd officials to Hong Kong last January. The case was filed with the Ombudsman Monday, five days before the start of the campaign period for local elections.
Ampaya, an incumbent councilor, who is seeking re-election, is a nephew of ex-Mayor Fresnedi, San Pedro’s main rival in the race for the city’s top post.
Mayor San Pedro said he has yet to receive a copy of the complaint, but he vowed to answer point-by-point all issues raised by the complainants.
“I always have faith in our judicial system. I know that in the end, the truth will come out that there was really nothing illegal nor improper in the travel of those DepEd personnel, who by the way were allowed to go on the said trip by no less than the Honorable Secretary.” he explained.
San Pedro added that he is not surprised by the filing of this case as it merely represent a series of desperate moves by his political opponent who lags far behind in the latest people’s survey of preferred candidates.