Governor Lala Mendoza faces graft over questionable fuel deal

• North Cotabato Governor Lala Mendoza is facing graft charges before the Office of the Ombudsman
• The complaint stemmed from an alleged anomalous transaction between the provincial government and a company owned by her mother
• The controversial governor allegedly authorized the purchase of fuel worth P2.4-M from her mother’s gasoline station

 Controversial North Cotabato Governor Emmylou “Lala” Taliño-Mendoza is facing graft charges before the Office of the Ombudsman over an alleged anomalous transaction that involved the provincial government and a company owned by her own mother.

According to a report by News 5, Mendoza authorized the purchase of diesel fuel worth P2.4-M from the gasoline station owned by her mother.

The amount was sourced from the provincial government fund, while the fuel was allegedly used for four government vehicles – a grader and 4 dump trucks – for a 2-day road repair project in the province.

But Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales said no public bidding was conducted and there is no record that the full amount went to the rehabilitation project.

“(Respondent) made it appear that the diesel fuel was procured and used in a government project when in truth, only a small portion of the fuel was actually used and the rest was converted to cash for the benefit of those who were involved in the fraudulent transaction,” Morales said.

Meanwhile, Mendoza has not yet released a statement on the corruption charges she faces; just days after the violent dispersal of protesting farmers in Kidapawan City.

The controversial governor faced huge backlash online after she was quoted as saying during a press briefing that she was insulted when certain individuals and politicians sent sacks of rice to the province as assistance to the beleaguered farmers demanding financial aid from the government.

She also slammed certain candidates for allegedly ‘politicizing’ the incident.

At least three people were killed and hundreds more injured when government troops forcibly broke the line of protesting farmers and lumads last April 1.

However, when Mendoza appeared before the Senate which investigated the bloody dispersal, the governor sported a different and much humbler tone. She even thanked those who have sent assistance and donations to the Kidapawan farmers.

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