A progressive organization has lodged plunder and graft complaints against former Narvacan, Ilocos Sur mayor Luis “Chavit” Singson and several local officials over alleged illegal use of public land and misappropriation of tobacco tax funds, ABS-CBN News reported.
The group Warriors of Narvacan, Inc. accused Singson, former Philippine Tourism Authority General Manager Robert Dean Barbers, Narvacan Tourism Lodge Manager Luzviminda Ramos, and Ilocos Sur PENRO official Rosemarie Jornacion of conspiring to privatize a public foreshore area in Sulvec, Narvacan — locally known as “Santorini.”
According to the complaint, the respondents allegedly constructed a private resort without the necessary permits or environmental clearances. “Sinira niya ang aming paraiso de Juan. ‘Yan po ay dating public picnic grounds… marami siyang sinirang corals doon sa aming lugar,” said Estrelita Cordero, a representative of the group, during the filing of the complaint.
Cordero added that the resort’s construction blocked local fishermen’s access to the area and that some who attempted to fish were allegedly threatened or even fired upon. “Biglang isinara niya yung aming grotto, yung mataas na lupa at ipinagbawal niya ang mga fishermen na pumasok doon sa lugar na ‘yon. At kung merong magtangkang mag-fishing doon sa lugar na ‘yon, siya ay binabaril, pinapaputukan,” she claimed.
The complaint also questioned a 2008 Deed of Sale, allegedly executed by Barbers, which transferred public land to Ramos’ company without presidential approval. The group urged the Ombudsman to nullify the sale and demolish the structures built on the property.
In a separate case, the same organization accused Singson, current Narvacan Mayor Edna Sanidad, Vice Mayor Pablito Sanidad Sr., and members of the municipal council of overpricing the purchase of a 99,974-square-meter property from Western Textile Mills, Inc. for ₱149.9 million — nearly ₱100 million more than its zonal value of ₱49.9 million.
The group sought the preventive suspension of Mayor Sanidad, restitution of the alleged overpayment, and the permanent disqualification of the officials involved.
Cordero said they filed the complaints only now because they believed the current Ombudsman would be more open to hearing their case.
Meanwhile, Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte dismissed the charges as politically motivated, saying, “This is getting ridiculous. Has freedom of speech already disappeared in this country? Now, anyone who dares to speak against the administration gets charged. So this is what they call the new normal in government?”
