The Office of the Ombudsman Visayas has ordered Murcia Mayor Esteban Coscolluela and Municipal Treasurer Inocentes Conti to file their counter-affidavits and other evidence to the administrative and criminal complaints filed against them by Murcia Business Alliance president Lina Lazanas and 15 others.

In an order dated March 29, Director Virginia Palanca-Santiago, officer-in-charge of the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas, and Director Edgar Canton of the Evaluation and Investigation Office, said their office found enough basis to proceed with the preliminary investigation and further administrative adjudication proceedings of the cases.

The group of Lazanas charged Coscolluela for grave abuse of authority, fraud, and violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

They filed the complaints, they claimed when Coscolluela refused to heed their protests against the increase in rental rates at the new Murcia Public Market, and after some of their fellow tenants were supposedly displaced from their blocks and stalls.

Coscolluela said in a text message to the DAILY STAR yesterday that he had received the order on Thursday.

"It's the same old song. (The complaints) will be dismissed. I'm confident about it," he said.

The Office of the Ombudsman gave Coscolluela and Conti 10 days to file their counter-affidavits and evidence after the receipt of the order.

They were also required to submit proof of service of their counter-affidavits and other supporting evidence to the complainants, who may file their reply-affidavits within an extendible period of 10 days.

The Office of the Ombudsman said that failure to comply within the period prescribed by the rules shall be deemed a waiver of the right to present the parties' counter-affidavits or reply-affidavits and the investigation shall proceed according to existing rules. It added that motions to dismiss, motions for bill of particulars and other similar dilatory motions are prohibited pleadings and shall be stricken off the records of the case.

The 15 other complainants are Archibald Masacote, Angelina Andojar, Gloria Real, Margie Orce, Merlinda Barcenas, Helen Piadoche, Remedios Castillo, Crezilda Artigosa, Marina Espadero, Erlina Amante, Mae de la Cruz, Christine Villarosa, Wilfredo Naranja, Sonia de Dios, and Ma. Fe Gawan.*NLG

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