Tomas wants to settle P135M scholars’ fees
Former scholars of the Asian College of Technology International Educational Foundation (ACTIEF) listen to Cebu City education officials during a meeting in this May 21, 2015 file photo.
Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said he is willing to pay the P135 million in tuition which the city owes to the Asian College of Technology International Educational Foundation (ACTIEF) if there’s no legal impediment to it.
The mayor said there was no irregularity committed by his political ally Rep. Rodrigo Abellanosa of Cebu City’s south district when he allowed his school ACTIEF to join the city’s scholarship program in 2011.
Abellanosa was then a city councilor.
“I think the Ombudsman basically didn’t realize that it is the student that chooses the school. It is not Abellanosa forcing the students to go to him,” he told reporters yesterday.
Osmeña said ACTIEF) “had the best to offer, the lowest financial requirement from” all of the schools at the time.
“How can that be graft and corruption? He’s not blocking out others (other schools) from participating. It was not exclusive,” the mayor said.
The Ombudsman filed graft charges against Abellanosa at the Sandiganbayan over the issue.
The anti-graft office said Abellanosa violated Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act when he allowed his school, ACTIEF, to
join the city’s scholarship program when he was still councilor.
The case has long been pending since the Ombudsman dismissed Abellanosa from public office. The congressman questioned his disqualification in court.
Former mayor Michael Rama refused to pay ACTIEF the P135 million worth of tuition the city owes the school for the city’s scholars who were enrolled there in 2014 and 2015.
But Osmeña said he’s considering the possibility of paying the school already or even through the students themselves.
“I’m willing to consider giving the money to the students directly because we’re not giving money to Bebot (Abellanosa),” he said.
He said this way, the students can directly pay ACTIEF.
Last year, the school decided to withhold the Transcript of Records of city scholars who graduated from the school due to the amount the city owes the school.
The mayor admitted though that this is yet to be reviewed by city lawyers.
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