ILOILO CITY Mayor Jed Patrick E. Mabilog, who is currently on medical leave and out of the country, and City Councilor Plaridel C. Nava II will be facing charges before the Sandiganbayan over a deal with 3L Towing Services in 2015.

In a statement yesterday, the Office of the Ombudsman said it found probable cause to charge the two with one count each of violation of Section 3 (h) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act No. 3019).

The two local officials have accused each other of having business interest in 3L Towing Services, which was awarded exclusive clamping authority without a bidding process.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, in a resolution, said her office found that on April 8, 2014, the city council, or the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP), approved a proposal, sponsored by Mr. Nava, incorporating the use of a wheel towing clamp as part of the towing ordinance.

Then on Feb. 17, 2015, the SP approved a resolution authorizing the mayor to sign a memorandum of agreement (MoA) between the local government and 3L Towing Services for the implementation of the city’s clamping ordinance.

Under the MoA, 70% of the fines collected would go to the towing company while the remaining 30% would be the city government’s share.

Two weeks later, or on Feb. 27, Mr. Mabilog wrote an urgent letter to the SP informing them of the suspension of the MoA due to “some technical issues.”

On May 19, 2015, 3L proprietor Leny Garcia wrote to Mr. Mabilog offering to withdraw from the MoA “amidst the legal issues confronting it and submit to legal processes prescribed by laws on government bidding and procurement.”

Mr. Nava, the chairman of the committee on transportation, accused Mr. Mabilog of actually owning 3L and claimed that the mayor had a direct financial interest in the MoA.

The Ombudsman quotes Mr. Nava as saying: “ (Mr.) Mabilog allegedly employed his services to perpetuate and consummate his illegitimate, immoral, dishonest and underground acts and transactions with private groups and corporate personalities doing or intending to do business in the city of Iloilo by using his power and influence as the chief executive of the city government.”

Mr. Nava narrated that the mayor instructed him to look for someone they could trust to stand as a dummy owner and to estimate the cost and expenditures for the proposed business venture on clamping services. According to the complaint, Mr. Nava regularly reported to Mabilog about the status of the business venture and that on June 16, 2014, Mr. Mabilog handed him P500,000.00 in cash as part of his capital contribution to the business. The mayor also reportedly expedited the release of the business and mayor’s permits of the towing company.

In his countercharge, Mr. Mabilog claimed that “it is Nava who has pecuniary interest in 3L because it was the latter who told him about it and its intention of bidding for the towing project even defending the qualifications of 3L.”

In its resolution, the Ombudsman said that “while Mabilog and Nava pointed to each other as the true owner of 3L and thus have financial or pecuniary interest in the MoA for towing and clamping, one thing is clear from their accusations and counter-accusations — both colluded to create 3L, to get Garcia to act as its dummy owner, to have the business registered with the DTI and BIR, to secure its business and mayor’s permits, and to have it awarded the MoA with the city government without going through a competitive process.”

“Simply put, there was a meeting of the minds between them to do an illegal act and thus they must both suffer its consequences,” Ms. Morales said.

Under Section 3 (h) of R.A. No. 3019, public officials are prohibited from directly or indirectly having financing or pecuniary interest in any business, contract or transaction in connection with which he intervenes or takes part in his official capacity.

UP TO 60 hostages are still being held by the Islamic State (IS)-inspired Maute terror group, according to the military, some of whom continue to be forced to fight with the militants.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Brigadier-General Restituto F. Padilla, Jr. yesterday said there were up to 80 fighters remaining on the IS side, likely including some of the hostages, as soldiers close in following Saturday’s overrunning of the Bato mosque and another building that had been used by the militants.

“Hostages are believed to be still at about 40 to 60. And the enemy’s strength per the last validation seemed to have increased from 60 to 80. Because of news and information that indicated that perhaps some of the hostages previously held have been forced to join the ranks,” Mr. Padilla said in a press briefing in Malacañang.

At the same time, the military official said they are still confirming reported surrender feelers coming from the extremists.

“There were unofficial and raw information that came to the attention of Joint Task Force Marawi that indicated the desire of some armed elements of the Maute group to lay down their arms and surrender,” Mr. Padilla said.

Mr. Padilla said they have yet to validate whether these are really coming from the Maute members, but gave assurance that those who will surrender will be treated fairly and granted due process.

“We know the rules of engagement. We know the rules of war. And if there’s a white flag flying out there for an individual, o isang tao man lang na nagnanais sumuko, rerespetuhin po ang karapatan niya at siya po ay tatratuhin nang maayos (even if it is just one person who wants to surrender, we will respect the rights and give fair treatment),” he added.

As of Sunday, Mr. Padilla said 673 militants, 47 civilians, and 149 soldiers had been killed in the fighting that started May 23 when hundreds of the militants went on a rampage and sieged Marawi, considered as the main Islamic city in the Philippines.

Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana, in a separate briefing, said the fighting that is on its 120^th day today is nearing its end.

“It is close, our soldiers on the ground are saying that we are near to finishing,” he said.

Nevertheless, officials conceded many obstacles remain, including improvised explosive devices and secret tunnels where the militants were hiding other hostages.

“The Bato mosque, underneath there are a lot of intricate tunnels and secret chambers so we are actually clearing those chambers and there are hostages in there,” said AFP chief Eduardo M. Año.

‘STRONG AND HANDSOME’
Among those taken hostage on day 1, Father Teresito Suganob, a Catholic priest, yesterday smiled and declared himself “strong” to the media upon his arrival at the military headquarters in Metro Manila following his Sept. 16 rescue.

In a jocular mood despite his ordeal, the heavily bearded but apparently well-fed Mr. Suganob said at a press conference: “I am physically strong and handsome. That’s it for now.”

The 51-year-old priest also called for prayers as he smiled and waved to reporters.

Mr. Suganob, commonly known as “Father Chito” and is the Marawi vicar general, was taken hostage along with about 13 parishioners from the local cathedral on the first day of the fighting.

The militants later released a video showing themselves vandalizing the cathedral.

Another video released by his captors in late May showed Mr. Suganob standing in the rubble of buildings in Marawi asking President Rodrigo R. Duterte to withdraw troops and stop the military offensive.

The priest said at the time that the gunmen were holding 240 “prisoners of war,” including teachers, carpenters, and household workers. They were mostly Christians and local tribespeople.

“We want to live another day. We want to live another month,” Mr. Suganob said in the video as gunfire was heard in the distance.

One hostage who escaped in early July told authorities that the priest had been forced to serve as a cook for the militants, according to Lieutenant Colonel Jo-ar Herrera, spokesman for the army division involved in the Marawi fighting.

This was one of many reports that the militants were forcing their hostages to work as slaves.

Authorities said the hostages’ roles included carrying the gunmen’s food and ammunition, serving as stretcher-bearers for their wounded, collecting munitions and even acting as human shields. — Rosemarie A. Zamora and AFP

By Patrizia Paola C. Marcelo

THE Department of Transportation (DoTr) said it will be “ready to talk” with San Miguel Corporation (SMC) regarding its proposal to build an international airport in Bulacan province provided that there are no government guarantees or subsidies involved.

“There should be no government sovereignty, or government guarantee, or subsidy. There should be no contract that would say that, for example, airplanes that fly through an airport be transferred to the [new airport]…If that is okay, then we are ready to talk,” DoTr Secretary Arthur P. Tugade told reporters in a mix of English and Filipino in a recent interview.

Mr. Tugade said DoTr has received “a letter” from SMC, adding the agency is ready for talks, “subject to existing laws and regulations.”

He added that the unsolicited proposal will undergo the regular process of being submitted to the Investments Coordination Committee (ICC) of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), subject to approval of the President and Swiss challenge.

Under public-private partnership (PPP) rules, unsolicited proposals should not burden the government with commitments on providing subsidies or sovereign guarantees to projects.

The proposed airport in Bulacan has an estimated cost of $14 billion and involves a 2,500-hectare property that can accommodate up to six runways.

It is one of at least two unsolicited proposals for a new airport outside Metro Manila but within surrounding provinces, as the government looks into establishing another gateway to decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

The other proposal is by All-Asia Resources & Reclamation Corp., the Tieng family’s team-up with the Sy family’s Belle Corp., for a $50-billion airport and economic zone at Sangley Point in Cavite.

The government is currently accepting bids for the Clark International Airport Phase 1 upgrade. Construction of the project is expected by December.