Raps filed vs. Parañaque councilors over rushed permits for casino-resort, two other firms

Paranaque City Councilor Brillante Inciong on Thursday sued his colleague actor John Ryan Yllana before the Office of the Ombudsman over the alleged hasty approval of business permits in favor of gambling businesses.

One of the permits involved was for the scuttled Nayong Pilipino resort-casino.

Inciong charged Yllana for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, and corruption of public officials under the Revised Penal Code.

Councilor Edwin Benzon and city council executive assistance Rick Villanueva were also included as respondents in the case.

Inciong urged the Ombudsman to suspend the three respondents to prevent them from influencing or intimidating potential witnesses.

Inciong alleged that Yllana and his co-respondents moved for the approval of letters of no objection (LONO) for the Nayong Pilipino project, YRB Solutions Inc., and GenX Sports and Media Production Inc.

The councilor said that the respondents did so before the city council despite the absence of a committee report on the proposed LONOs from the Committee on Games and Amusement, which he chairs.

Under the city council rules, Inciong said a LONO must first pass the committee level before its approval in the city council.

The councilor said Yllana bypassed this procedure and moved for the approval of the LONO without a committee report on April 12, 2018, which forced him to have a heated exchange with the respondent in dissent of the move. 

During their argument, Inciong said the rest of his colleagues approved 11 LONO resolutions despite the lack of a report from the Committee on Games and Amusement where he sits as chairman.

GMA News Online is still reaching the camp of Yllana for comment. —NB, GMA News