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Iloilo town vice mayor faces graft charges for favoring wife’s construction firm

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Records show that when  Palabrica was the  municipal mayor,  he “willfully, unlawfully, and criminally” intervened in the awarding of a PHP5.36-million contract entered into by the local government with Tri-B Marketing from 2007 to 2009.

The investigators established, that  Tri-B was owned by Rufino’s wife, Theresa Palabrica, but was registered under the name of her dummy, Eden Casteneda.

The contract was for the concreting, rip-rapping, widening, and construction of the drainage system at Espino St., and construction of the drainage on Aportadera St. worth PHP1.89 million in December 2007, and the concreting of a portion of Pototan-Dingle Road worth PHP1.79 million in September 2008.

The local government of Dingle also awarded Tri-B the concreting of Camambugan-Caguyuman Barangay Road amounting to PHP733,794 in February 2009 and the construction of a home technology building at Rufino Palabrica Sr. National High School worth PHP953,271.64 in March 2009.

The Ombudsman stated that  the business interest of Palabrica’s wife in a government contract violated  the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standard for Public Officials and Employees.

The Ombudsman has recommended a bond of PHP120,000 for Palabrica’s temporary liberty.-Editha Z. Caduaya//Newsline.ph

About Editha Z. Caduaya

Edith Z Caduaya studied Bachelor of Science in Development Communication at the University of Southern Mindanao.

The chairperson of Mindanao Independent Press Council (MIPC) Inc.

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