Suspended Silang, Cavite mayor denies corruption allegations

Suspended Silang, Cavite Mayor Kevin Anarna on Tuesday denied that he stole from public coffers as a House panel questioned the alleged misuse of funds in the municipality under his watch.

Anarna read a statement during the hearing of the House Committee on Public Accounts, airing his side regarding the supposed irregularities in P1.5 billion worth of transactions that were flagged by the Commission on Audit (COA). 

According to the suspended mayor, the municipal accountant was not able to submit the disbursement vouchers on time as she was on pregnancy leave. He also said that these vouchers were now submitted to COA. 

“Sa mga akusasyon ng pandarambong at pagnanakaw sa kaban ng bayan, ako po ay naninindigan na ito’y walang basehan, pawang paninira lamang po,” Anarna said.

(On the corruption allegations, I stand firm that all these have no basis and are meant only to destroy my image.) 

“Nanunumpa ako sa Komiteng ito na ako ay walang kinausap na kahit sinong supplier o kahit sinuman na paboran o humingi lamang na kahit isang kusing sa kahit sinong tao para paburan ang proseso ng procurement sa Silang,” he added. 

(I swear to this Committee that I did not talk to anyone to ask for money from anyone to favor them in the procurement process in Silang.)

Cavite 5th district Representative Roy Loyola earlier this month filed House Resolution No. 1850, directing the House Committee on Public Accounts to conduct an investigation, in aid of legislation, on the alleged misuse of funds and irregularities in the procurement process in Silang. 

In the resolution, it was stated that acting Municipal Mayor Edward Carranza, acting Vice Mayor Mark Anthony Toledo, and Sangguniang Bayan member Perpetuo Desingaño wrote a letter on August 2, requesting assistance regarding the “disconcerting financial status of the municipality caused by previous irregularities and blatant disregard to pertinent provisions of the then governing procurement law (RA No. 9184) and its implementing rules and regulations.” 

In March, a complaint was filed against Anarna and his brother, then Municipal Administrator and Bids and Awards Committee chairperson Nathaniel Anarna Jr., for grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service. 

The complaint stemmed from a COA audit observation memorandum (AOM) regarding the supposed illegal bidding practices in the municipality, involving over 5,000 disbursement vouchers amounting to P1.508 billion.  

This resulted in the imposition of a preventive suspension by the Office of the Ombudsman against the Anarna brothers. 

The suspended mayor said the move was politically motivated, denying that he stole the P1.5 billion funds in 2023. 

“Isang malaking fake news na ‘yung P1.5 billion na aming budget for year 2023 ay aking pong binulsa. Ito’y isang malaking kasinungalingan,” he added. 

(It's big fake news that I pocketed P1.5 billion from our 2023 budget. This is a big lie.) 

Carranza, who is now the acting mayor, said that his office will continue to investigate the matter.

Panel chairperson Representative Joseph Stephen Paduano said the House panel plans to resume the hearing on the issue next week. — BM, GMA Integrated News