MAYOR Oscar Moreno has asked the ombudsman to dismiss the complaint for grave abuse of authority, grave misconduct, and violation of the code of conduct and ethical standards for public officials, that was filed against him by a former Taglimao barangay chairman in connection with Ajinomoto Philippines’ business taxes.
In a June 24 position paper, a copy of which was shown to this paper, Moreno and coespondent city treasurer Glenn Bañez said the complaint filed by ex-barangay chairman William Guialani has political undertones. Moreno and Bañez said Guialani was trying to make himself known at their expense, and the former barangay chairman has already publicly declared that he would seek a city council seat next year.
“In fact, he has been advertising himself [through] several media outlets and announcing his intension to run in the upcoming local elections,” reads part of the position paper.
Moreno and Bañez were charged by Guialani of entering into a tax compromise agreement with Ajinomoto Philippines Corp. without the green light of the city council.
Guialani said Ajinomoto was made to pay city hall only some P300 thousand for some P2.9 million in taxes, excluding surcharges, from 2012 to 2016.
Lawyer Jonathan Pacuribot, the legal counsel of Moreno and Bañez, said the complaint was baseless because the amount of the business tax paid was a court decision resulting from an official mediation. “It was the mediation board that exerted efforts to settle the case amicably,” Pacuribot said.
In 2014, Ajinomoto sued city hall, and questioned Bañez’s move to classify its product as “non-essential.” It asked that the court declare its product as an “essential product” so that the tax rates would be different based on the local Revenue Code of 2003.
The court then ordered Bañez and Ajinomoto to submit to the mediation board in order to settle the tax dispute. Pacuribot said Moreno and Bañez could not be held liable because the court favored the decision of the mediation board. (nitz arancon)
Disclaimer
Mindanao Gold Star Daily holds the copyrights of all articles and photos in perpetuity. Any unauthorized reproduction in any platform, electronic and hardcopy, shall be liable for copyright infringement under the Intellectual Property Rights Law of the Philippines.
