Ex-Davao Oriental mayor charged with malversation, graft

MANILA, Philippines – The Office of the Ombudsman has charged former mayor Arfran Quiñones of Lupon, Davao Oriental, of malversation and graft before the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan.

The Ombudsman said in a statement on Tuesday, May 31, that Quiñones is facing 10 counts of malversation of public property and one count of violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for alleged misappropriation of government propery valued at P446,425.77.   

The Office of the Ombudsman found that after his term in 2007, government property under Quiñones’ custody remained unaccounted for. These included technical and scientific equipment, a laptop, information technology equipment and software, office supplies, a mobile phone, and a projector.  

The Ombudsman said under Section 3(e) of RA 3019, “public officials are prohibited 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.”

“Malversation is committed by a public officer who, by reason of the duties of his office, is accountable for public funds or property, shall appropriate the same or shall take or misappropriate or shall consent, through abandonment or negligence, shall permit any other person to take such public funds, or property,” it added.

Quiñones is currently the barangay captain in Langka, Lupon. He served as Lupon mayor from 1998 to 2001, and from 2004 to 2007.

In 2010, Quiñones, then a mayoral candidate, was among those kidnapped by the New People’s Army for “crimes against the people” but was later released on “humanitarian grounds.”

Quiñones made a comeback bid in the 2016 elections under PDP-Laban but lost to mayoral rival Linda Lim of the Liberal Party by less than 500 votes. – Rappler.com