CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Court of Appeals-Mindanao has dismissed the charges against City Mayor Oscar Moreno and City Treasurer Glenn Bañez filed by the Office of the Ombudsman in line with the tax settlement case that a former village chief filed in 2013.
Former village chief of Taglimao William Guialani sued Moreno and city treasurer Glenn Bañez for grave misconduct for entering into a tax agreement with Ajinomoto Philippines without the approval of the City Council in 2013.
In the settlement, Aajinomoto was made to pay only P300,000 instead of the initial tax assessment of P2.92 million.
In its decision dated October 13, 2016, CA said the decision of the city treasurer in line with the tax settlement “had been declared by the court to be not contrary to law, public policy and public morals.”
The CA ruling also noted that Guialani and the Ombudsman were “quick to quack” to accuse Moreno and Bañez that there is ‘diversion of public funds, and deprivation of tax revenue of about P2.6 million when Dr. Bañez, compromised the tax assessment to P300,000. 00 only’ but did not present any proof that the city coffer did not become P2.6 million richer because of the deal. (Camcer Imam)