OMBUDSMAN Conchita Carpio Morales indicted on Friday ex-Naga City Mayor Valdemar Chiong of Cebu for graft, grave misconduct and gross neglect of duty.
Chiong was also perpetually barred from public service.
The charges stemmed from Chiong’s unlawful issuance of a mayor’s permit to Petronas Energy Philippines, a wholesaler of liquefied petroleum gas.
On April 7, 2014, the city government issued Petronas a business permit despite failure to present a fire safety inspection certificate.
In his defense, Chiong said he only issued a conditional mayor’s permit as he had to act and use his discretion in addressing Petronas’ pending application pursuant to his power.
“Chiong deliberately violated the specific requirement of Section 5 (g) of Republic Act No. 9514 (Fire Code) and in doing so, he gave unwarranted benefits, advantage, or preference to Petronas. This clearly shows gross inexcusable negligence and constituted grave misconduct and gross neglect of duty on his part in the performance of his duties and responsibilities as a mayor,” the resolution read.
“His allegation that the mayor’s permit issued is ‘conditional’ anyway does not negate the grave misconduct and the existence of probable cause against him because the issuance of a conditional business permit under Department of Interior and Local Government Memorandum Circular No. 2011-15 is allowed ‘where the only lacking clearances are those of Social Security System, Philippine Health Insurance and Pag-IBIG.’”
