Philippine officials accused of irregular licencing

Three Parañaque government officials have been accused of fast-tracking a licencing process in exchange for “grease money.”

Philippines.- A Philippine councillor has accused three other local officials of corruption in a gaming firm licencing process. Councillor Brillante Inciong submitted a complaint against three Parañaque politicians for allegedly expediting the approval of business permits for several gaming and entertainment firms in exchange for “grease money”.

Councillor Inciong filed a seven-page complaint-affidavit to the Philippine Ombudsman in which he called for an investigation of Councilors John Ryan Yllana and Edwin Benzon and city council executive assistant Rick Villanueva for graft, violation of Republic Act 6713 and attempted corruption of a public officer.

According to Inciong, Yllana tried to bribe him in April with “grease money” through Villanueva, in order to get him to approve a Letter of No Objection (LONO), involved in a licencing process for a gaming firm. He claims that he refused the offer but later received another bribe proposal by Benzon, who unsuccessfully tried to convince him to accept the “LONO money” in exchange for his support.

Back on June 21, Councillor Inciong was removed from the chairmanship of the committee on games and amusement, which he claims was a move pushed by Councillor Yllana.