Ombudsman raps Mayor Apostol of Cabangan, Zambales

The Office of the Ombudsman today ordered the filing of criminal charges against Mayor Ronaldo Apostol of Cabangan, Zambales.

Acting Ombudsman Orlando Casrimiro said that he recommended the filing of graft charges against Apostol for usurpation of authority for allegedly acting illegally as presiding officer of the executive session of the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) of Cabangan on Dec. 23, 2008.

Then Vice-Mayor Julius Bada said in his complaint that Apostol usurped his powers and duties as municipal vice-mayor and presiding officer of the Sangguniang Bayan.

Bada claimed that Apostol presided over the session, which was surreptitiously held to prevent its detection by him and eventually passed a resolution authorizing the purchase of firearms for use of SB members.

"In this case, respondent (Apostol) pretended that it is within his official function to preside over the sessions of the SB," the Ombudsman said in its resolution.

Casimiro said that the meeting "was not a mere consultative meeting" as what Apostol claims.

"Rather, the session 'authorizes a transaction with pecuniary implications,'" he said, insisting that the vice mayor is the designated as the Sangunniang Bayan presiding officer as stated in the Local Government Code. philstar.com