• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Office of the Ombudsman dismissed the complaints filed against Deputy Speaker and Bacolod Lone District Representative Alfredo Abelardo Benitez and members of the City Council for alleged grave misconduct, violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (RA 3019), and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards (RA 6713), citing lack of sufficient and substantial evidence.
The complaints filed by radio blocktimer anchorman Roger Ledesma stated that Benitez, then mayor of Bacolod City, and members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, allegedly overpriced the acquisition of 74.7 hectares of agricultural land in Barangay Granada, Bacolod City, citing supposed conflicts of interest among officials, and questioned the transfer of titles without clearances from the Department of Agrarian Reform.
Benitez welcomed the resolution issued by the Office of the Ombudsman, dismissing the complaints filed against him and his co-respondents.
In a statement, Benitez said he had consistently maintained from the start that all actions taken in connection with the case were done in accordance with the law and due process, and were guided by what they believed to be in the best interest of the people of Bacolod.
The Ombudsman’s findings affirmed that there was no basis to hold them administratively or criminally liable, and that there was no clear showing of overpricing, conflict of interest, or bad faith in the transaction, the Bacolod solon said.
“In short, everything was above board,” Benitez said.
The congressman also acknowledged that public scrutiny is part of holding public officials accountable, adding that he respects the legal process.
With the matter now resolved, Benitez said his focus remains unchanged. We will continue to do the work, strengthening our local economy, improving basic services, and ensuring that every decision we make delivers real value to our people, he added.
The Ombudsman ruled that there was no definite proof of overpricing, noting that the valuation was based on approved zonal values and proper appraisal procedures, considering the property’s location, accessibility, infrastructure, and development potential.
On the allegation of conflict of interest, the resolution stated that membership in both the Appraisal Committee and Land Banking Committee did not automatically constitute a violation of law. It also found no evidence that the respondents acted in bad faith, with manifest partiality, or gross negligence.
The Bacolod City government acquired the 74.7587-hectare property in October 2023 for P971.86 million for land banking and future development projects.
As a consequence of the ruling, all charges were dismissed, along with the request for the preventive suspension of the respondents, including Bacolod City Councilors Al Victor Espino, Jude Thaddeus Sayson, Israel Salanga, Cindy Rojas, Em Ang, Vladimir Gonzales, Simplicia Distrito, Celia Matea Flor, Psyche Marie Sy, Lady Gles Gonzales-Pallen, Ayesha Joy Villaflor, and Jason Isidro Villarosa, as well as Raymond Danico, Bacolod Deputy Register of Deeds, Jose Maria Ledesma, Sebastian Antonio Ledesma, Gerardo Ledesma, Eugenia Ledesma, and Antonio Maria Ledesma, who was earlier dropped from the complaint by reason of his death.*
