COMPLAINANTS in the plunder case against Cotabato City Mayor Mohammed Ali ‘Bruce’ Matabalao and for other city officials are calling on Ombudsman Samuel Martires to speed up the investigation to help “enlighten” Cotabato voters with the May 12 midterm election fast approaching.
They noted that their complaint for violation of RA 7080 or the ‘Anti-Plunder Law’ has been languishing at the Ombudsman since it was filed on August 30, 2024.
Named co-respondents were Primitivo O. Glimada Jr., city accountant; Teddy U. Inta, city treasurer; Regina G. Detalla, city budget officer; and Ma. Adela A. Fiesta, city planning and development coordinator.
Aside from plunder, the accused were also charge for alleged violation of Article 217 (malversation) and Article 171 (falsification of public documents) of the Revised Penal Code.
The complainants were Cotabato City Councilors of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Mindanao (BARMM), Marouf A. Pasawiran, Abdulrakim O. Usman, Hunyn C. Abu, Kusin S. Taha, Henjie M. Ali, and Datu Noriel A. Pasawiran; and residents, Mohamad L. Abubakar, Tato G. Esmail, Al-Jehad A. Tantung, and Zhoher N. Anggar.
The case stemmed from the disbursement of part of the P1.104-billion loan application from the Land Bank of the Philippines (P468 million) and the Development Bank of the Philippines (P636 million), which was approved and enacted under City Ordinance 4609.
As stated in the ordinance, the DBP loan should fund the purchase of parcel of lands for the ‘ECOZONE,’ public markets, public terminals, cold storage, ice plants, and other developmental projects.
The DBP released the first loan, amounting to P199,671,200.00 on July 19, 2019. As of June 30, 2024, the DBP had already released P566,918,365.47, or about 89 percent of the approved loan.
In his ‘Statement of Indebtedness’ declaration for 2022 and 2023 before the Cotabato City Council, Matabalao acknowledged the receipt of P118,534,198.69 million from the city treasury. He claimed that a payment of P52,599,083.32 had already been made to the DBP for the loan principal.
But the complainants noted that based on a statement from the DBP, the actual payment only amounted to P29,118,716.69 leaving an unaccounted amount of P89,415.481.
After overstating the payment, Matabalao “dishonestly” declared the remaining amount as ‘cost savings’ and asked the City Council to use the money to fund other projects, which the council approved.
The complaint said Matabalao and his co-accused were liable for the ‘disappearance’ of the P89,415,482 unaccounted public funds from the city coffer, which is way beyond the P50-million threshold set for the crime of plunder.
“It is apparent that Respondent Matabalao and his allies have amassed a considerable amount of public funds, to the prejudice of the residents and taxpayers of Cotabato City,” the complaint said.
The complainants claimed Matabalao’s lifestyle and means have substantially changed since he assumed office in 2022.
Matabalao, they noted, managed to have his house “significantly renovated” while also acquiring “luxurious personal properties” that he even posted on social media.
“Not content with satisfying his taste for expensive and lavish wares, vehicles clothes, and real properties, Respondent Matabalao’s immediate relatives, family members, and allies were able to acquire and purchase considerable expensive personal and real properties, “ the complaint said.
They noted further that Matabalao’s son, Alain, managed to build a two-storey house despite only having a Salary Grade (SG) 14 position in the city government (an SG14 position in government only draws P33,843 in monthly basic pay—Editor).
Matabalao’s wife, Aly, regularly wears and appreciates expensive designer bags, watches, hijabs, shoes, and other clothing, which she shares on her social media accounts.
Matabalao’s brother-in-law, Almeidi Arumpac, holds a position in the city government with a salary grade (SG) 22 (P71,511.00 in monthly basic salary—Editor). However, the complainants alleged he was able to build an “expensive residential house.”
They added the city accountants were part of the “conspiracy” to defraud the city government by preparing a “misleading report” to the City Council that was subsequently approved by Matabalao.
“It is apparent that the participation of the former (co-respondents) was done not without his (Matabalao) connivance and acquiescence to the scheme with the intention to raid the public funds of Cotabato City,” the complaint further said.
The complainants also urged the Ombudsman to immediately issue a preventive suspension against the accused to prevent them from allegedly concealing or destroying evidence that can incriminate them.