EB Magalona Vice Mayor Robert Acaling filed complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman against EB Magalona Mayor Marvin Malacon and six town councilors over alleged “unscrupulous use” of municipal funds.

The vice mayor gave a press conference yesterday, where he named Malacon, alongside Town Councilors Joey Pugales, Reylan Gamboa, Sr., Isidro Gomed, Eric Matulac, Gelita Parcon, and Jovie Madayag, as conspirators who “whimsically and capriciously” used public funds without proper authority.

He added, they would also initiate special sessions without informing him, considering the vice mayor is supposed to serve as presiding officer.

Acaling said Malacon negotiated a P200 million loan from Land Bank of the Philippines for the purpose of purchasing heavy equipment and towards the rehabilitation of EB Magalona’s public market; in addition, the mayor allocated P3 million from the municipal development fund as an advance amortization for the proposed loan as a guarantee, all without proper authorization from the town council, which the vice mayor pointed out is required.

The vice mayor accused the local officials of violations of RA 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, along with grave misconduct.

He added, a complaint was earlier filed back in October, with a supplementary administrative complaint filed the following month.

Watchmen Daily Journal tried to reach Malacon for comment but he has yet to respond to the allegations as of press time./DGB, WDJ