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PALAYAN CITY: Vice Gov. Edward Thomas Joson has filed graft charges
against Gov. Aurelio Umali before the Office of the Ombudsman on
Tuesday.
Also charged were Umali’s wife, Rep. Czarina
Umali (3rd District, Nueva Ecija), provincial treasurer Edilberto
Pancho, and lawyers Alejandro Abesamis and Ferdinand Abesamis,
administrator and consultant, respectively.
Joson cited in his complaints, the purchase of
93 multi-cabs that the provincial government distributed to the
barangays as one of the grounds for the charges of violations of the
anti-graft and corrupt practices law.
Reportedly paid by the provincial government for
P176,200 per unit, Joson alleged that based on a quotation from its
supplier identified as CHK Motors, the vehicles could have been
bought at only P135,000 each, including registration.
Capitol officials have earlier said the purchase
was aboveboard.
Joson also said Umali could have illegally hired
the services of provincial information officer Edgardo Rillon and
consultant Ferdinand Abesamis.
The Civil Service Commission, he said, has
already rejected Rillion’s appointment for lack of eligibility,
while Ferdinand Abesamis was allegedly dismissed from government
service during the Estrada Administration.
The respondents have yet to comment on the
charges.
-- Armand M. Galang
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