Mayor confident to survive Ombudsman suit

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz – Mayor Receliste Tanoy Escolin of Pres. Roxas, Capiz believed that the administrative case filed against him by three village chiefs is purely out of politics and that the Office of the Ombudsman will junk this.

The case was filed by Punong Barangays Richard Baltar of Aranguel, Everardo Cercado of Madulano and Arnulfo Degala of Marita during the recent national and local elections.

The complainants were allegedly supporters of Escolin’s political opponent, former Vice Mayor Alfonso Golero.

Other respondents in the complaint were Bids and Award Committee (BAC) members of Pres. Roxas and the Provincial Government of Capiz.

The complaint is about the construction and rehabilitation of the town’s public market wherein the contractor is allegedly not qualified for a P100-million project.

They also questioned the project for being constructed in a private lot allegedly owned by the Locsin family.

But Escolin denied the complaint as he presented a Deed of Donation he secured from the National Archive proving that the lot was donated by the Locsin family to the municipal government of Pres. Roxas in the 1960s.

He clarified that the project was awarded to the qualified contractor after he won the bidding.

The mayor said the Ombudsman is expected to render its decision on the complaint anytime now.