SAN PEDRO CITY, Laguna. San Pedro City Mayor Art Francis Joseph Mercado of Laguna Province is facing a new set of plunder charges, this time filed by a private citizen. The complaint was lodged on Tuesday before the Office of the Ombudsman, alleging violations of the Plunder Law (Republic Act 7080), the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act 3019), as well as gross inexcusable negligence and grave misconduct.
The charges were brought by Jason Vierneza, a former employee of San Pedro City Hall’s Public Order and Safety Office. Vierneza, who resigned in July after nearly 19 years of service, accused Mercado and his city council of purchasing a 22,500 square-meter parcel of land in Barangay Landayan for P135,000,000 without proper legal procedures or a clear development plan.
In his 14-page complaint, Vierneza highlighted that the land was acquired for P6,000 per square meter in April 2023, based on a disbursement voucher from the San Pedro City Hall. He expressed disappointment in the local government, citing the lack of a concrete plan for the land, which has since contributed to severe flooding in residential areas.
“We are disappointed in our mayor and his council. I filed plunder charges against them for buying a land in my own hometown, Barangay Landayan, without following the proper process. The piling of loads has caused heavy flooding that affected many residents,” Vierneza said in his statement. “I stand for the people of Landayan because we are heavily affected.”
Vierneza further claimed that the land was overpriced, noting that former San Pedro City Mayor Lourdes Cataquiz had offered to buy the same property three years ago for only P1,300 per square meter, totaling P29,500,000.
In addition to Mercado, the charges also named Vice Mayor Divina Olivarez and several councilors, including Michael Casacop, Sheriliz Almoro, Joie Chelsea Villegas, Leslie Lu, and Atty. Mark Oliveros, Aldrin Mercado, Bernadette Olivarez, Jose Mendoza, and Vincent Solidum. Other officials, such as ex-officio members of the Sangguniang Panglungsod, Liga ng mga Barangay President Diwa Tayao, SK Federation President Raphael Ty, City Administrator Atty. Henry Salazar, and 12 others, were also implicated.
Attorney Melvin Matibag, Vierneza’s legal counsel, criticized the purchase, stating, “Land banking is not the job of the local government. This is the second time Mayor Art [Mercado] and his administration bought land without a clear purpose.”
Matibag emphasized that under the law, purchasing land without a specific use is prohibited, particularly in flood-prone areas like Barangay Landayan. “It cannot be. Under the law, it is prohibited to buy land property if there is no specific use or plan for it, if there are many informal settlers, and if it is a flood-prone area. This is a flood-prone area beside Laguna Lake,” he said, adding, “I am very sad to see what’s happening to the people of Landayan and San Pedro because of the flooding.”
This marks the second plunder case filed against Mayor Mercado and his council. City Councilor Carlon “Lonlon” Ambayec had previously accused them of purchasing another property in Barangay Laram for P73,644,000 without a clear development plan. In both cases, Matibag noted that no board of assessors was appointed to evaluate the properties, and there were no annual investment plans in place.
The Ombudsman has yet to issue a statement regarding the charges.
Roy Tomandao
Si Roy Tumandao ay kasalukuyang pangulo ng Camp Vicente Lim Press Corps. Nagsimula siya sa larangan ng media noong 1992 at aktibo bilang photo journalist at news correspondent para sa iba’t ibang tabloid. Broadcaster siya ng DZJV 1458 Radyo Calabarzon.
