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Friday, March 29, 2024

QC treasurer protests Ombudsman order on Seedling Bank sale

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QUEZON City treasurer Edgar Villanueva  on Monday questioned the order of the Office of the Ombudsman dismissing him from government service for grave abuse of authority as a result of the auction of  the seven-hectare  Manila Seedling Bank Foundation  situated in a prime property along Quezon Avenue and Epifanio de los Santos Avenue.

In an interview, Villanueva maintained his innocence of the offense punishable under Section 3 (e) of Republic Act 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

“I am the most innocent in this case,” he told The Standard.

Villanueva contested special prosecutor I Loreto Cunanan’s recommendation to dismiss  him   and mete out the accessory penalties of perpetual disqualification from reemployment in the government service, cancellation of eligibility and forfeiture of retirement benefits.

 In a 20-page Dec. 29, 2015 decision, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales approved the recommendation of Cunanan.

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Villanueva protested. “The substance of the decision was not about the manner of the city government’s takeover of the Manila Seedling Bank, but about the validity of the auction,” Villanueva said.

“The Ombudsman should not have questioned the auction of the property since the Supreme Court ruled  that the disputed [real estate] property belonging to the National Housing Authority is being utilized by the Manila Seedling for business purposes. Under the benefit of use theory, the Manila Seedling is taxable,” Villanueva said. 

Villanueva said he was “just doing his job” when he auctioned the foundation for failure to settle its P57-million tax delinquency in 2011.

“I have the legal authority to bid out the property after its one-year grace period to redeem the property had lapsed,” he said.

In 2012, Mayor Herbert Bautista, along with Villanueva, Department of Public Order and Safety head (ret. police) Elmo San Diego, then Quezon City Police District chief Mario de la Vega, ex-city administrator Victor Endriga, real-estate division head Jason Labao and ex-NHA general manager Chito Cruz, was charged with grave abuse of authority filed by Manila Seedling president Leonardo Ligeralde with the Ombudsman.

 

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