E.B. Magalona Mayor Marvin Malacon considers the dismissal of the P6.9 million graft cases filed against him and 18 others, after a six year legal battle, as the “best gift” that he will ever receive on his birthday, which is next week.
Malacon, who will turn 51 on August 6, said “it will be the best birthday gift ever. I wish no more on my birthday.”
The Ombudsman’s decision exonerating me and my 18 co-accused from trumped-up charges, he added, “is ‘beyond enough’ to thank God and to celebrate,” Malacon said.
Malacon has survived 31 counts of graft charges filed against him in the past several years, which were all dismissed by the Ombudsman for lack of probable cause.
He admitted that six years of battling false accusations, fueled by plain innuendo, is tiresome.
“But I never gave up. Not just for myself, but for my family’s and co-accused’s sake,” Malacon stressed in a press statement.
“The Ombudsman’s decision is like a beacon from afar that will guide Saraviahanons to what is really true. They accused us. They tainted our names, integrity and credibility, yet, they failed to smash us. Truth prevailed and we triumphed over politically-motivated harassment,” he added.
His co-accused who were also cleared by the anti-graft agency included Vice Mayor Eric Matulac and five councilors Reylan Gamboa, Joey Pugales, Isidro Gomed, Gelita Parcon, and Jovie Madayag. Department heads Riza Diaz (municipal treasurer), Jessilyn Plaza (ex-municipal budget officer), and Debbie Ann Monte (ex-executive assistant-now-budget officer) were also implicated.
Other respondents included nine village chiefs – Leah Beri (Tanza), Rio Jemilla (Consing) Sharen Patoc-Belen (Pasil), Larry Jayona (Gahit), Ronnie Loro (San Isidro), Merian Porras (Canlusong), Ronaldo Olano (Cudangdang), Ma. Fe Monarca (Damgo), and the late Allan Matapaja (Alicante). Jayona, Loro, Porras, Olano, and Monarca are already ex-captains.
Former E.B.Magalona Vice Mayor Robert “Rob” Acaling acted as complainant, accusing Malacon and 18 others allegedly for violating Section 3 of Republic Act (RA) 3019 (illegal use of public funds and properties) and RA 6713 (dishonesty, grave abuse of authority and grave misconduct).
Charges stemmed from the controversial P6.9 million fund aid given to 23 villages in town at P300,000 each in April 2018, a month before the May 14 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections.
But the fund was used for the barangay road rehabilitation, flood control and reforestation, the statement added.
In a 14 page decision, Ombudsman Samuel Martires ordered the dismissal of the charges for two valid grounds – lack of probable cause and lack of substantial evidence. It was only made public by the respondents on July 29 in a press briefing at the Asenso Hall in E.B. Magalona.
“God knows. We never did any hanky-panky,” Malacon said.
“I wish that the Ombudsman’s decision will enlighten all Saraviahanons that we never erred in spending government’s money. Every single centavo from our town’s coffer is well-accounted for and, that, we never engaged in any act constituting graft and corruption. Not worth my salt,” he stressed.
Malacon is set to conclude his three terms as the town mayor in June next year, the press statement from the E.B. Magalona municipal government said.*
