MANILA, Philippines – Capiz Governor Victor Tanco Sr, who is on his last term, did not file for any elective position in the 2016 elections. The Liberal Party stalwart in standard-bearer Manuel Roxas II’s home province apparently made the right decision.

The Ombudsman has ordered Tanco’s dismissal from service and lifetime disqualification from public office, along with his son, Security Officer III Vladimir Tanco.

They were ordered dismissed for demanding and receiving P3 million ($64,000) from a contractor for the P32.9-million ($709,000) Mambusao District Hospital project.

In addition to administrative liability for their “grave misconduct,” father and son suffer the penalties of “perpetual disqualification from holding public office, cancellation of eligibility, and forfeiture of retirement benefits,” the Ombudsman said in a press release on Thursday, October 22.

The contractor, Leodegario Labao Jr of Kirskat Venture, alleged that, on September 19, 2011, Vladimir went to his office to demand that he be given P3 million before his father, the governor, would approve the release of payments for the project. If Labao refused, his company would be blacklisted as contractor for the provincial governor, he was told.

Labao issued a P3-million check two days later, bearing the note “Mambusao Hospital SOP to Gov Tanco.” He delivered it to the governor’s residence. Based on records, the check was deposited and credited to Vladimir’s account.

A month later, on October 24, the provincial government issued a P2.2-million check to Kirskat. It supposedly represented 15% of its “mobilization fund.”

Vladimir Tanco later argued that the P3 million he got from the contractor was a loan, but the Ombudsman said he failed to support this claim.

“The claims of the complainant were duly supported by the evidence on record, specifically: the signed check voucher; check issued by the complainant which was subsequently deposited to the account of Vladimir; and the affidavits of witnesses” which “demonstrates respondents’ corrupt intent,” Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales said.

“The element of corruption is evident as respondents unlawfully and wrongfully used their position to procure some benefit for themselves, contrary to the rights of the complainant.”

Governor Tanco and son violated Section 3 of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. It prohibits public officers from using his position to intervene in any contract or transaction and in exchange receive “any gift, money, present, share, percentage, or benefit.”

It also “prohibits public officials from causing any undue injury to any party, or giving any private party any unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference in the discharge of his official administrative or judicial functions through manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence.” 

Campaigning for Mar Roxas

Tanco is on his last term as governor. In 2013, he defeated the candidate of the United Nationalist Alliance by what was believed to be largest lead in Capiz’s history of gubernatorial races.

The governor’s other son, Victor Tanco Jr, is running for provincial board member in the 2nd district of Capiz

Last June, when Roxas visited the province, the governor said he and other LP officials have a “One Visayas Movement” to push for Roxas’ presidential bid.

“It’s about time na ang president should also be coming from the Visayas para naman gaganda naman ang buhay namin,” he told reporters then. (It’s about time that the president comes from the Visayas so that our lives will improve too.) – Rappler.com