The National Bureau of Investigation has recommended to the Office of the Ombudsman the filing of graft charges against the former mayor of Siayan town in Zamboanga Del Norte and two municipal employees who conspired with each other in commiting illegal acts.
Also recommended to be charged is the incumbent mayor of Siayan for obstruction of justice.
NBI Officer-in-Charge (OIC)-Director Eric Distor identified the suspects as former Mayor Flora Villarosa, the two employees, Ana Marco and Jennifer Pumicpic, and incumbent mayor, Lawyer Josecor Gepolongca.
On May 17, 2021, Villarosa, Marco, Pumicpic, and Gepolongca were recommended for prosecution before the Office of the Ombudsman.
Villarosa was charged with violation of Section 3 (e), (h), and (j) of R.A. 3019, otherwise known as the “Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act”, in relation to vArticle 216 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC), for causing undue injury to the Government, Section 7, 8, and 89 (1) of R.A. 6713, otherwise known as the “Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials.
Villarosa was also charged with perjury and falsification of public documents. Subjects Marco and Pumicpic were charged for violation of Section 3 (h) of R.A. 3019, otherwise known as the “Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act” andf falsification of public document.
Gepolongca was recommended to be charged with Obstruction of Justice and Sections 4 (b) and 5 (a), (c), (d), and (e) of R.A. 6713.
Marco was also recommended by the NBI-AGD to be a statewitness because her testimony as dummy is absolutely necessary and may be considered as a compelling evidence.
Distor said that the recommendation was arrived at after months of exhaustive investigation conducted by the NBI-Anti Graft Division.
Distor said an anonymous letter of request for investigation was filed with the NBI alleging that Villarosa has acquired numerous businesses, real estate properties, vehicles and money which are manifestly disproportionate to her salary and other sources of lawful income during her incumbency as Municipal Mayor of Siayan, Zamboanga Del Norte from 2010 to 2019.
A complaint was also received from Marco, one of the employees of Siayan Municipality, who alleged in her Affidavit that she and Villarosa used to be friends and because of this, she agreed to Villarosa to use her name as dummy to the former Mayor’s businesses identified as Midway Gas Station and Midway Enterprises located in Saiyan.
Marco also revealed that Villarosa used her name and other persons’ name in most of her businesses in order to engage contracts with the Municipality of Saiyan, during her incumbency as Mayor.
Marco also added that another employee, Pumicpic, was introduced to her as the secretary of Villarosa.
According to the statements of witnesses who, during Villarosa’s incumbency as Mayor, were employees of the municipal government of Saiyan and a barangay official testified that the owner of Midway Gas Station and Midway Enterprises is actually Villarosa.
Further investigation conducted by the NBI-AGD validated its findings showing that Midway Gas Station and Midway Enterprises and Merchandises had a total transaction of 190 projects amounting to P32,324,319.15 with the Municipality of Saiyan during the term of the former Mayor.
NBI-AGD also asked for the Bidding Documents of the Municipality of Saiyan which showed that Pumicpic is a member of the Bids and Awards Committee of Saiyan.
NBI-AGD was able to secure two memoranda issued on February and July 2019 by the Municipality of Saiyan signed by Gepolongca prohibiting all employees of the Municipal Government from processing the request for public documents by various agencies including the NBI, whom at that time was investigating the matter regarding the anomalous transactions of the Municipality.