THE Office of the Ombudsman has filed graft charges against Cebu City South District Rep. Rodrigo "Bebot" Abellanosa before the Sandiganbayan.
In a document signed by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, the office accused Abellanosa of violating Section 3(i) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft Corrupt Practices Act when he allowed his school to participate in the Cebu City Government's scholarship program.
That time, Abellanosa, who was a city councilor, sat in the City's scholarship committee.
The Ombudsman said that Abellanosa "willfully, unlawfully and criminally became directly or indirectly interested or have material interest" in the approval of the resolution authorizing former mayor Michael Rama to enter into a memorandum of agreement with the Asian College of Technology International Educational Foundation (ACTIEF) for the City's scholarship program.
Abellanosa owned ACTIEF.
A copy of the complaint filed last Oct. 7 was posted on the Twitter account of the Ombudsman.
When sought for comment, Abellanosa said he has been expecting the move for months already after being notified last June that his motion for reconsideration was denied.
"We are even wondering why it took the Ombudsman this long to give me the opportunity to clear my name of malicious accusations in the proper court. It is a great relief for me to be finally given this chance to defend myself in the proper forum," Abellanosa said in a text message sent to Sun.Star Cebu.
