FILE PHOTO: Former Manila Mayor Lim
MANILA, Philippines — Former Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim is now facing complaints of graft, gross misconduct and gross neglect of duty for unpaid taxes in Manila during his term.
According to Reynante Sacaguing, the private complainant and a taxpayer from Manila, Lim allegedly failed to pay taxes demanded by the Bureau of Internal Revenue in 2007.
Sacaguing said, his motorcycle accident in 2012 prompted him to research on the funds of the city allocated to road repair and maintenance. That was when he found out that the city was in 572 million peso debt with the BIR.
Sacaguig also insisted that Lim be charged with graft for influencing officials in Manila to ignore the notice of assessment sent by BIR.
Also included in the complaint are former city treasurer Marisa de Guzman and former city accountant Maria Lourdes Manlulu.
Complainant Sacaguing said, “Malulugi mismo iyong taumbayan, dahil imbes na magamit doon yung pera, imbes na magamit ito sa kapakanan namin, panggawa ng kalsada, iyong mga ospital eh hindi ho magagamit dahil lumaki ng lumaki yung utang ng city government.”
(This is disadvantageous to the public, instead of the fund being used for our welfare; for road repair; for hospitals, it can’t because the city government is deeply in debt.)
Former Mayor Lim, on the other hand, said that this is just politicking.
“Iyang paninira, mga propaganda effect, alam mo naman mag-eeleksyon ngayon,” the former mayor of Manila said.
(Those accusations are meant to tarnish my reputation; propaganda effect. You know very well it’s election season.)
The Office of the Ombudsman will have to see if there is sufficient basis or probable cause in the complaint before filing a case at the Sandiganbayan. (JOYCE BALANCIO / UNTV News)
The post Former Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim faces graft complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman appeared first on UNTV News.