Malay mayor faces graft raps before the Ombudsman

A lawyer from nearby San Jose, Antique province filed graft and corruption charges against municipal mayor of Malay town and the local assessor before the Office of the Ombudsman.

Deputy Ombudsman for Visayas Pelagio Apostol said in their 14-page document that he has forwarded the complaint to the Aklan Provincial Board for it to act on.

Apostol said that the Ombudsman decided to refer to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan the complaint filed by lawyer Mariano Pefianco since the case is under the jurisdiction and competence of the Aklan Provincial Board.

In his complaint, Pefianco claimed that Malay mayor John Yap and municipal assessor Erlinda Casimero harassed the cadastral surveyors relocating the boundaries of his property which the management of Hotel Del Rio in Iloilo City is reportedly interested to buy.

"The land was given to me by the father of John Yap as part of my lawyer's fee. It was awarded to me by the Kalibo Regional Trial Court. His father Jose Yap did not object to the said transaction. I am planning to sell the property since I could not afford to develop it," Pefianco said.

The camp of Mayor Yap could not be reached for comment as of press time.