POSSIBLE CONFLICT OF INTEREST IN A.C.T SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS? SHOW US THE LIST

Possible conflict of interest, two youth groups questioned the involvement of Councilor Rodrigo Abellanosa and the school he owns, the Asian College of Technology (ACT), in the scholarship program in today's Sunstar newspaper.

Cebu City Councilor Rodrigo "Bebot" Abellanosa is using his position in the council to get the bulk of city scholars and have them enrolled in his school "Asian College of Technology".

Cebu City Councilor Bebot Abellanosa should be investigated by the City Council, City Legal Office and the In-house Ombudsman for violation of the Code of Ethics, more particularly: Conflict of Interest - The following act as shall constitute violation of this provision:

a. Having any participation or involvement, direct or indirect, in any transaction involving any person, cooperation or any business enterprise with which Cebu City, directly or indirectly, has business relationship, where such participation or involvement is of a nature detrimental to Cebu City.
 
Councilor Bebot Abellanosa was able to collect early this year Php 40 Million as the city's payment of the scholars tuition fees. Unfortunately, 75% of the students dropped out of school. Money of the Cebu City Government gone to waste.

I hope you will put a stop to Cebu City Scholarship Funds going to Asian College of Technology. It's draining the city's coffers and the students are going nowhere because most of them dropped out. Some students are even enrolled at the ACT Talisay City branch, which is outside the jurisdiction of Cebu City.  Are there any academic standards in the choice of the scholars or just politically connected? Where can we find out about the program for those that want to apply in the city, what website?

Councilor Bebor is moving heaven and earth to collect about Php 50 Million from the City Treasurer's Office because he is badly in need of money for his Congressional Candidacy. These comments come from the Ombudsman facebook page click below
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ombudsman-Conchita-Carpio-Morales/222807994415463

2 youth groups to check Cebu scholarships

"We view with concern this controversy about the scholarship program of the City. The alleged conflict of interest started when Abellanosa passed an ordinance that sought the inclusion of his social services committee in the City Council among the members of the scholarship committee.  They also want to know when the scholarship program began, how many scholars were enrolled per school and how many actually graduated.
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/local-news/2012/09/17/2-youth-groups-check-cebu-scholarships-243223

Rama issues partial veto of scholarship measureCouncilor Jose Daluz III objected to Abellanosa’s role in the scholarship committee because 5,000 of the 7,000 city scholars in 2010-2011 were enrolled in ACT.

An amendment in the ordinance included Abellanosa in the scholarship committe in his capacity as the council’s social services committee chairman.  He said it was also “inconsistent” with public policy to have Abellanosa in the scholarship committee because it may result in conflict of interest.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/257502/rama-issues-partial-veto-of-scholarship-measure

City Council overrides Rama’s partial veto on scholarship measure THE Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK)-controlled Cebu City Council flexed its muscle once more, using the strength of numbers to override Mayor Michael Rama’s veto of the ordinance that establishes Cebu City’s college scholarship program. But it is doubtful if Councilor Rodrigo Abellanosa can come out of this issue smelling good.

Rama maintained his position that conflict of interest may arise if councilor Rodrigo Abellanosa, owner of the Asian College of Technology (ACT), is made to sit as a member of the city college scholarship committee in his capacity as head of the council’s social services committee.

Abellanosa told the council in yesterday’s session that in order to pacify the mayor, he will not be sitting on the scholarship committee. Instead he will designate councilor Leah Japson, the vice chair of the social services committee, to sit on the committee on his behalf.

But Rama said, designating another person to the scholarship committee still defeats the conflict of interest he was saying in his veto.

Abellanosa, who is running for congressman in the city’s south district, is the main focus of the debate on the appropriateness of seeing the measure through.

But while Abellanosa relinquishing the chairmanship of the social services committee takes out the thorn in the passage of the ordinance, it does not answer the conflict of interest question. Abellanosa remains in the city council, which funds the scholarship program.

Abellanosa can fully free himself of the conflict of interest question only if he does one or both of these: resign from the city council or bar ACT from accepting enrollment of the city’s scholars. If he doesn’t, then he could not escape the unethical tag, which can be used against him in the campaign for the May 2013 elections. http://cebudailynews.wordpress.com/2012/08/30/city-council-overrides-ramas-partial-veto-on-scholarship-measure/

Editorial: Abellanosa’s optionshttp://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/opinion/2012/08/29/editorial-abellanosa-s-options-239989

Tags: Councilor Rodrigo Abellanos,  Asian College of Technology (ACT) Cebu, Cebu City Councilor Rodrigo "Bebot" Abellanosa, Philippine Ombudsman. Cebu City Council, Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK)