The Makati City government has filed a graft complaint against Taguig City Treasurer Voltaire Enriquez and two other individuals, Jessie Garcia and Erika Macaligtas, for violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Grave Misconduct, Gross Neglect of Duty, and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service.
The complaint stems from the 11-month delay in the release of tax clearance documents by the Taguig Treasurer’s Office for three parcels of land purchased by Makati from the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) at a cost of P146,503,273.
In a statement, Mayor Abigail Binay criticized Taguig’s “disregard for the law, harassment of employees, and charges of illegal detention and grave coercion.”
“Their obsession to grab properties owned by Makati seems to have compromised their judgement, public conduct, and sense of decency,” she said.
The complaint also highlighted the inordinate delay in securing the tax clearance and assessment for the payment of local transfer taxes.
The complaint stated that under the Taguig City’s Citizen’s Charter, it should only take three working days for individuals and five working days for corporations to process tax clearance.
Enriquez, Garcia, and Macaligtas are being charged with violating Section 3f of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, which states:
“Neglecting or refusing, after due demand or request without sufficient justification, to act within a reasonable time on any matter pending before him for the purpose of obtaining, directly or indirectly, some pecuniary or material benefit or advantage, or for the purpose of favoring his own interest or giving undue advantage in favor of or discriminating against any other interested party.”
The complaint also alleged that the Taguig City employees are administratively liable for grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the Service.
The complaint noted that their improper and imprudent acts will tend to undermine people’s faith and confidence in the government.