CLARK FREEPORT — The Tarlac City government did not receive P500,000 from a Chinese national who posted a photo of the donation online in 2022 and was recently suspected of being a spy.
“The P500,000 was supposed to be donated directly to the Department of Education (DepEd) by the donor, but only P100,000 was actually given,” said Joselito Castro, the city’s legal officer, in an interview with the Inquirer on Thursday.
Castro did not identify the donor. Reuters had published the photo of the alleged P500,000 donation in 2022.
According to Castro, DepEd received P100,000 and had duly liquidated the amount. DepEd Central Luzon regional director Ronnie Mallari has yet to confirm both claims.
Vice Mayor Genaro Mendoza confirmed on Wednesday that, at the mayor’s request in August 2023, the legislative council authorized Mayor Ma. Cristina Angeles through Resolution No. IX-33-486 to receive P200,000 from the “Qiaoxing Volunteer Group of the People’s Republic of China” for “various projects and programs of the city.”
‘Unutilized’
The resolution stated that the donation aimed to “promote mutual support and cooperation as well as peace and friendship with the City Government of Tarlac.”
Castro said the P200,000 had “so far remained unutilized” for being an “insignificant amount.”
Mendoza added that the city treasurer had yet to certify whether the amount remains unspent or intact. Earlier, Mendoza called for “transparency and accountability” from Angeles.
Castro also made a clarification about the 15 motorcycles that were donated by a “Tarlac-based Filipino-Chinese group.”
He explained that 10 motorcycles were “donated directly” to the provincial police office, which subsequently gave five units to the Tarlac City police.
The city government eventually turned over the motorcycles to its public order and safety office.
Efforts to obtain a statement from Angeles were unsuccessful, as Castro said she was visiting villages for her Angel Care program.
Mendoza maintained that there was a “legal basis” requiring prior authorization from the city council before the city mayor could accept donations on behalf of the city government.