MUNICIPAL Administrator Ariel Anghay in the town of Medina in the eastern part of Misamis Oriental has hailed the decision of the Sandiganbayan on the graft charges lodged against him and his former colleagues in Iligan City.
He called the charges against him “malicious political persecution.”
The decision was promulgated by the 3rd division of the Sandiganbayan with justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang, presiding.
The complainant of the said case is Atty. Dexter Rey Sumaoy who served as head of the General Services Division of the then administration of city mayor Celso G. Regencia.
The charges are in connection with the establishment of a south-bound bus and jeepney terminal at Camague, barangay Tubod of this city which alleged that the owner of said land used for the purpose of the said terminal was a “relative” of Cruz, and “there was no bidding” on the matter.
The other respondents of the case were former city mayor Lawrence Cruz, councilors Roy Openiano, Bayani Areola, Providencio Abragan, Jr., Riza Jane Magaro, Jose Zalsos, Marlene Young, Michelle Sweet, Moises Dalisay, Jr., and Frederick Siao. The latter is now the mayor of this city, while Abragan, Young, and Sweet have returned, being elected again as city councilors under the ticket of Siao.
Anghay served as city councilor of Iligan City during the time when the graft charges filed against him and other members of the City Council who voted yes to give authority to former mayor Lawrence Cruz to enter into an agreement to acquire lots for Iligan South Bound Bus Terminal.
“Among counter adto dili mana pwede e bidding ang yuta. Kay kung pwede e bidding ang yuta mangdaog toang lagyo nga barangay sa bukid,” Anghay said.
He said that it was malicious to him because not all who voted yes in the city council were included in the charges.
“Kung sala man gani ang pag botar sa yes kami dapat tanan (gikasohan),” Anghay said.
Anghay named the councilors who also voted yes but were not included in the graft complaint as Alfredo Busico, Voltaire Rovira, Benvienido Badelles, and Wilfredo Bacareza.
Anghay also believed that the reason why Sumaoy filed against them was that the majority block at that time cannot concur with his appointment as city administrator.
Anghay is presently serving as Medina’s municipal administrator under Mayor Donato Chan. He used to be a reporter for RMN dxIC in Iligan and then a five termer councilor of the city from 1998 to 2016.
Anghay said he will run again as city councilor of Iligan in the 2025 midterm elections.
