Ombudsman Finds Bebot Guilty for Misconduct

The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas found Cebu Congressman Rodrigo “Bebot” Abellanosa guilty of grave misconduct for his involvement in the Cebu City Government’s scholarship program which reportedly benefited Abellanosa’s schools.

Abellanosa owns the Asian College of Technology (ACT) and the Asian College of Technology International Education Foundation Inc. (ACTIEF), two of several accredited schools for the Cebu City’s scholarship program. He is also the President of the said school.

The eight page decision, sighed by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, said that conflict of interest was obvious and ordered his dismissal from public service. It added that Abellanosa’s exercise of dual position has created a conflict of interest.

Abellanosa, in behalf of ACT, signed a MOA with Cebu City for its City Scholarship Program on June 24, 2010. Additionally, on behalf of ACTIEF, he signed another MOA with the City on August 5, 2011.

In both MOAs, Abellanose was in effect holding dual positions as then City Councilor and President of both schools.

As a result of the conflict of interest, Graft Investigation and Prosecution Officer I Jess Vicent Dela Peña said a total of P51,064,877 was disbursed by the City to ACT and ACTIEF. They also have P119,752,576 in receivables from the City Government.

Under Cebu City’s scholarship program, high school graduates are given P10,000 as tuition assistance and P1,000 allowance every month per semester. The amount is paid directly to the school. Dela Peña added that both ACT and ACTIEF were given a tax reprieve by the City.

The anti-graft office has also found probable cause to file a criminal case against Abellanosa, who represents Cebu City’s south district in the House of Representatives.

As of press time, Representative Abellanosa could not be reached for comment.