Mayor Pedro Alarcon of Batad, Iloilo is set to face graft charges for repeatedly approving his wife’s business permits. In a Resolution released by the Ombudsman, Alarcon will face trial for four counts of violation of Section 3(h) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act No. 3019) for approving the business permits of Batad Ice Plant, a business owned by his wife, Elvira Alarcon.
Records show that Alarcon approved Batad’s business permit issued on February 2011, March 2011, February 2012 and February 2013.
Under Section 3(h) of R.A. No. 3019, a public official shall not directly or indirectly have financial or pecuniary interest in any business, contract or transaction in connection with which he intervenes or takes part in his official capacity, or in which he is prohibited by the Constitution or by any law from having any interest. ###