NEWSFLASH

TWO GRAFT CASES VS. LITO LAPID DISMISSED

San Fernando, Pampanga, Jan. 26, 2000 The Office of the Ombudsman, which found Pampanga Gov. Lito Lapid guilty in a scam involving illegal collection of fees from lahar sand quarrying, dismissed two other cases against the actor-politician.

One case involved the P104-millionpurchase of a 40-hectare property in Barangay Maimpis here, while the other involved the alleged failure of Lapid to liquidate some P2.6 million in cash advances.

In a ruling approved by Ombudsman Aniano Desierto, Ombudsman director Emilio Gonzalez III said the 40-hectare property was acquired 1997, during Lapid’s first term as governor. Lapid was subsequently re-elected in 1998.

Gonzalez ruled that Lapid’s reelection during the May 1998 elections “operates as a condonation of whatever misconduct he may have committed..."

In a fact-finding report also approved by Desierto, graft prevention officer Joan Roderos recommended the dismissal of charges against Lapid on his alleged unliquidated cash advances totaling P2,629,600 from January 1997 to December 1998. The Commission on Audit reported that as of Sept. 27, 1999, Lapid had liquidated his cash advances, as certified by the provincial accountant.

Last Nov. 22, the Ombudsman meted Lapid and his co-respondents a one-year suspension appeal on charges that he and three others padded lahar sand quarrying fees in 1997.

Early this month, the Ombudsman rejected Lapid's appeal. Lapid has taken the case to the Court of Appeals.