OMB gives Biñan officials 10 days to refute charges

OMB gives Biñan officials 10-days to refute charges

THE Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon has given the officials of the City of Biñan, Laguna, headed by Mayor Walfredo ‘Arman’ Dimaguila, 10 days to refute the complaints filed by city residents involving a questionable reclamation project that Dimaguila started in 2019 and which allegedly resulted to unabated flooding in their communities, sickness among the residents and their loss of income.

Aside from Dimaguila, also impleaded in the complaint for violation of RA 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) and RA 4850, the charter of the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA), are the following:

Vice Mayor Angelo Alonte and incumbent councilors, Jonalina ‘Dada’ Reyes; Jason Sousa; Alvin ‘Mangkok’ Garcia, Flaviano ‘Jigcy’ Pecaña; Libunero ‘Jedi’ Alatiit; Elmario ‘Elmer’ Dimaranan; Christopher ‘Toppe’ Alba; Victor ‘Bing’ Cariño; Rafael, ‘Raffy’ Cardeño Jr.; Elvis Bedia; Rommel Dicdican; and, Geeminiano Catalon.

Also ordered to submit their counter-affidavit within 10-days are the former members of the city council, namely: Liza Cardeño; Bong Bejasa; Gener Romantigue; Jaime Salandanan; Echit Desuasido; and, Rodolfo Montañez Jr.

Named as complainants are, Ferdinand Oberos Tabsing, a resident of San Isidro Village, Bgy. Dela Paz and Resurrecion Benite Buarao, a resident of Wawa Street, Bgy. Malaban. However, 42 of their neighbors also issued separate affidavits supporting their allegations against the accused.

They also informed the Ombudsman that Dimaguila proceeded with the project without any approval from the Laguna LLDA and environmental clearance certificate (ECC) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). They further alleged that in one of Dimaguila’s speeches (recorded in social media), he “admitted” he did not secure the required permits before the project started.

In their complaint received by the Ombudsman last June 11, 2024, Tabsing and Buarao claimed that since reclamation started sometime in April 2019, they were effectively deprived of their livelihood. The project encompassed some 15-hectares of Laguna De Bay, covering Malaban, Dela Paz, and nearby areas.

Like them, families in Malaban and Delapaz subsisted in planting various agricultural products and gathering water spinach (“kangkong”) that grows abundantly in Laguna De Bay.

Aside from the flooding that has remained stagnant for as long as 6-months, the dust and noise from the heavy trucks daily transporting backfills for the project also resulted to sickness among the residents, especially, their children.

They also informed the Ombudsman that Dimaguila proceeded with the project without any approval from the Laguna LLDA and environmental clearance certificate (ECC) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

They further alleged that in one of Dimaguila’s speeches (recorded in social media), he “admitted” he did not secure the required permits before the project started.

Meanwhile, the Biñan Police Office is being asked to explain the date when Dimaguila received the Ombudsman order from the police officer tasked by the anti-graft body to serve it to all the accused.

While the order was allegedly received by Dimaguila last November 8, he allegedly wrote in the margin that he officially received the copy on November 14, thus giving his group until November 24 to submit their reply.