MANILA – Barangay leaders of Manila have warned that voting for Mayor Alfredo S. Lim in the May 10 elections may later be useless in the wake of big graft charges filed against him before the Office of the Ombudsman.
Voting for Lim may be useless as he may even be booted out of office, especially if he will be convicted for the graft charges in connection with the Century Park Hotel lot sale for only P1 billion to a company of taipan Lucio Tan when the property could fetch for P3 to P4.5 billion, said the barangay leaders and members headed by Ernesto Jose of Malate.
Jose and the barangay leaders pointed out that aside from the highly questionable Century Park Hotel deal, Lim and other city officials were also charged with graft and malversation in connection an alleged 5,500 “ghost cheeseburger” purchase for supposedly a one day event for P221,250 last year from the small Angel’s Burger House in San Juan City.
All the charges against Lim and the other city officials, including Rafaelito Garayblas who is secretary to the mayor and acting president of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, were filed by no less than lawyer Reynaldo Bagatsing, a former consultant, aide and campaigner of Lim.
“Sayang na sayang ang mga boto kay Lim dahil napakalakas ang mga ebidensiya sa kanya sa mga kasong korupsyon,” Jose stressed.
“Nakakahiya na pinalabas nina Mayor Lim na nagkaroon ng isang pagpupulong ang mga barangay noong Agosto 27, 2009 at binilhan nina Lim ang pagpupulong na ito ng 5,500 hamburgers mula sa Angel’s Burger House na nasa San Juan pa,” said Jose.
“At bakit kaya sa San Juan pa bumili ng 5,500 hamburgers eh meron naman sa Manila ?” dugtong ni Jose.
Jose and the barangay leaders appealed to the Office of the Ombudsman to expedite their investigation on the graft cases filed against Lim and other city officials so that the Manilans, especially the voters in May, will be guided accordingly.
He said that already Lim and his officials have been asked by the Ombudsman to explain the controversial transactions with the Lucio Tan company in connection with the Century Park Sheraton lot deal.
