La Trinidad zoning officer faces more graft raps

June 16, 2018 Provincial

LA TRINIDAD, BENGUET – Six more individuals filed graft and corruption charges at the Civil Service Commission (CSC)-Cordillera against Emerson Tabernero, zoning administrator of this town.
The complainants were architects Wendell Aplaten and Bismark Paran, John Kimpay, Ceasar Juan, Pedro Limog Paredes and Ambrosio Alawas.
In the complaint affidavit signed by the complainants, which copies were obtained on Friday (June 15), they charged Tabernero with grave misconduct, dishonesty, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service and violation of Section 4 and 7 of Republic Act (RA) 6713 otherwise known as “Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.”
Complainants alleged that Tabernero demanded from them “fees” for survey and processing of a parcel of lands.
In the affidavit signed by Architect Aplaten, claimed that he had several legal transactions with Tabernero, particularly for the application of Locational Clearance for the construction of buildings of their clients.
“During those occasions, Engineer Tabernero, would require us, without providing us the necessary explanation even after seeking clarification from his office and the Land Management Section of the Bureau of Lands, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the imposition and collection of a penalty fee of P6,500.”
“Also, Tabernero required us, the applicants, to submit certified true copies of all Transfer Certificates of Title (TCT) of all lots inside the subdivision,” the affidavit states.
“The aforesaid requirements being imposed by Tabernero are not included among the basic requirements for local clearance as provided for under the Zoning Ordinance of the Municipality of La Trinidad,” Aplaten further claimed.
“These requirements are apparently anomalous and contravene Republic Act No. 9486 otherwise known as Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007.”
“In one instance, when I went to Tabernero’s office to clarify the foregoing matters, he intentionally uttered and used the name of Hon.Nestor Fongwan Jr., councilor of La Trinidad, without authority and consent from the latter, as if dragging the latter’s name just so to cover up his illegal acts.”
In the other affidavit signed by Architect Paran, he complained, Tabernero required him mandatory submission of a duly approved subdivision plan by the Land Management Section of the Bureau of Lands and a collection of a penalty fee of P6,500 from individuals applying for a locational  clearance for the construction of their buildings.
“I find this requirement of the zoning officer anomalous, considering that the subdivision plan was already approved and titles have been issued,” Paran stated.
The inexcusable delay in the processing of the necessary documents for the permits caused monetary loss and mental stress, complainants claimed.
On April 2, 2018, Councilor Fongwan Jr filed an administrative case before the CS regional office against Tabernero.
“We already warned him as early as 2016 to stop his corrupt practices, but to no avail, it got worst even,” the councilor said.
Councilor Fongwan filed the administrative case against Tabernero on the basis of the affidavit complaint by James Benos, of Barangay San Carlos, Baguio City. Benos is an owner of a parcel of lot in Longlong, Puguis (La Trinidad), who was applying for an excavation permit at the said zoning office.
In the signed affidavit, Benos claimed, Tabernero allegedly caused the undue delay in the processing of the said permit and allegedly solicited P10,000.
Moreover, Benos said, despite all documents submitted in obtaining the required permit, no permit was ever was issued by Taberno. PRIMO AGATEP / ABN