by Dave S. Albarado
With just a little over a week before the elections, Kevin Damalerio, an Executive Assistant of Gov. Arthur Yap, filed cases before the Ombudsman (OMBUDS) against incumbent 2nd district Cong. Erico Aristotle Aumentado and his wife Maria Vanessa Cadorna-Aumentado.
A copy of the complaint affidavit was furnished to The Bohol Tribune by Damalerio, himself. He filed the complaint-affidavit before the OMBUDS on Apr. 28, 2022.
Damalerio alleges that the Cong. Aumentado violated Section in relation to Section 11 of Republic Act (RA) 6713; violated Sections 7 (b) (1) and 9 in relation to Section 11 of RA 6713; and violated Section 8 of RA 3019, as amended, in relation to Republic Act No. 1379.
RA 6713 is known as An Act Establishing A Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. On the other hand, RA 1379 is the Act Declaring Forfeiture in Favor of the State Any Property That Have Been Illegally Acquired By Any Public Officer or Employee. Moreover, RA 3019 is the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
Damalerio said in his affidavit that he is filing the complaint against the Aumentados so that the OMBUDS can initiate criminal and/or administrative charges against the respondents.
The complaint alleges that Cong. Aumentado did not declare his “mansion-like” home in barangay Mariveles, Dauis in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN).
Damalerio averred that the solon admitted in a comment on Facebook that he did not declare the house in his SALN because it was supposedly obtained through a loan. Damalario contends that Aumentado’s act of not including his home in his SALN financed via a bank loan is a violation of the law.
Furthermore, Aumentado is being accused by Damalerio of allegedly non-divestment of his shares in Tarsier Arrastre Stevedoring Services, Inc.(TASSI).
The solon and his wife are also being accused of allegedly amassing unexplained wealth.
MANSION NOT IN ARIS’ SALN?
Damalerio pointed out that Aumentado has already shown his big home in Dauis via a video blog (vlog) of a certain Paulo Rigotti, which can be viewed on You Tube aside from Facebook.
Damalerio took a screenshot of the comment of the solon in the comment section of the latter’s own post about the house, which has been already deleted.
According to the solon in his now deleted comment on Facebook, the house was not declared in the SALN because the funds used to build the house were from bank loan proceeds.
The congressman, according to Damalerio, should have known that loans are declared in the SALN.
“Assuming arguendo that the said mansion in Brgy. Mariveles, Dauis, Bohol that respondent Cong. Aumentado bragged on social media was funded by a loan, still he was obligated to state the same in his SALN. It was a spontaneous admission of truth because it was clearly against his interest. For this reason, respondent Cong. Aumentado should be held liable for non-disclosure and not including the same in his SALN as required under Republic Act No. 6713,” Damalerio said in his affidavit.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST?
Damalerio stated further in his affidavit: “Cong. Aumentado and Maria Vanessa, are clearly engaged and exposed themselves in conflict of interest in not divesting of their interest in TASSI. During the Governorship of respondent Cong. Aumentado’s late father, respondent Cong. Aumentado, barely in his early 20s and apparently just graduated from college (if indeed he finished his studies which is still disputed), was already made a stockholder of TASSI, the Chairman of the Board of Directors at that.”
Damalerio said that in 2013, Cong. Aumentado succeeded his late father as congressman. Even if Cong. Aumentado is already a public official, he allegedly still signed company documents as chairman of TASSI, Damalerio bared.
Damalerio said it was only in 2014 that Cong. Aumentado finally divested his interests in TASSI.
TASSI is involved in the business related to port operations.
The Executive Assistant to Yap claims that Aumentado, as a member of the House of Representatives can influence the Philippine Ports Authority which bids out the arrastre and stevedoring operations of ports in the country, including those in Bohol.
TO BE DISMISSED FROM SERVICE FOR UNEXPLAINED WEALTH!
Damalerio, in his affidavit is seeking to dismiss Cong. Aumentado from public service.
Moreover, Damalerio is also looking to perpetually bar the solon and his wife from holding public office due to unexplained wealth.
Currently, Cong. Aumentado is running for governor of Bohol, while Maria Vanessa Aumentado is gunning for a congressional seat in the 2nd district of Bohol.
“The said house and lot is estimated to be between Php30,000,000.00 to Php50,000,000.00 considering that it sits in a land approximately half a hectare or around 5,000 square meters. The fair market value in Brgy. Mariveles, Dauis, Bohol is conservatively priced at Php3,000.00 to Php5,000.00 per square meter. The salary of a Congressman at Salary Grade 31 is between Php273,278.00 to Php312,902.00.
In his total of nine (9) years as Congressman, the maximum pay he can get is Php 33, 696,000.00 but he has daily and campaign expenditures for his three (3) elections. There appears to be a prima facie unexplained wealth on the part of respondent Cong. Aumentado,” Damalerio said.
In the spirit of objective journalism, The Bohol Tribune tried to reach out to Cong. Aumentado and wife for their comments on the cases filed by Damalerio.
However, the calls remained unanswered and unreturned as of press time.
The Bohol Tribune welcomes any comment coming from the side of the Aumentados.