WHEN NEWS CAME out that the Ombudsman will file graft raps against him, First District Congressman Rene Relampagos said he has probably “hurdled the worst of the same recycled issue.” The solon is apparently confident that the graft complaint against him will eventually be dismissed even as the Ombudsman has reversed its earlier dismissal of the case, approving the filing of charges against him and former provincial officials, including Governor Edgar Chatto and Vice Governor Concepcion Lim. Relampagos likens himself to a hardened punching bag. Claiming he has already paid a heavy price politically – and his only fault was an honest desire to improve the two basic utilities – water and light. “I am confident the charges against me will be dismissed in the end. Not only because the truth is on my side, but also the sympathy of the people who are continually enjoying the fruits of privatizing the water and electric utilities,” Relampagos declared.

For years now since the former Provincial Public Utilities Department (PPUD) had been spun off to be managed and operated by a private consortium led by the Salcon Group, residents of Tagbilaran and neighboring areas have enjoyed reliable and efficient water and light services. “Over the years, our province is achieving economic competitive edge, established ourselves as a sustainable eco-cultural tourism destination, drawing investments and employment opportunities is largely due in part to better service of our power and water utilities,” the solon added. But Relampagos, who faced media on Friday's forum at the People's Mansion, is again forced to defend himself over the stigma of the same privatization issue, which cost him electoral debacles, which many even thought would be the end of his political career. “Is this the prize I get for making the lives of so many of our people better? Why is this case resurrected after so many long years that the people have come to value and appreciate the benefits of improved water and electric services? Why only now?” Relampagos asked media.

Relampagos, was then governor and Chatto, then vice governor, at the time of the filing of the case in 1999. Relampagos and 14 other provincial officials and a private investor were charged for violation of Section 3, Paragraph (g) of Republic Act 3019, otherwise known as Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act in connection with the semi-privatization of the then Capitol-owned PPUD. Only two other provincial board members were not included in the charge, Godofreda Tirol and Roberto Cajes who abstained from voting for the endorsement of the Joint Venture Agreement with Salcon. Tirol is an incumbent PB member, while Cajes once served as congressman of the 2nd district and mayor of Trinidad town. Relampagos, who has been in the political limelight of Bohol since his Sangguniang Kabataan days, first suffered defeat in the hands of the late congressman Erico Aumentado in 2001 when he was seeking his third term as governor. That electoral defeat was largely attributed to allegations that he masterminded the anomalous sale of the PPUD to Salcon in the amount of P150-million, consummated barely months before the 2001 polls.

The former governor was accused of selling the twin utilities under PPUD for a measly amount while pocketing a huge pay-off from the consortium. Succeeding elections saw Relampagos being routed by his opponents who rehashed the issue against him. According to Relampagos, the people who know what the water and power services were like before private investors came in, can no longer question his credibility and integrity as public servant should any of his detractors “stage another sequel” of the Salcon sale issue. “Over the years I have been proven right after all to engage private partnership in the delivery of public services. People have come to realize that it was not a sale after all. It was a joint-venture with the provincial government retaining 30% ownership,” the solon said. The solon said he understands that the legal tussle is part and parcel of the privatization, especially that which comes from his political adversaries.

Relampagos said he could not blame the Ombudsman for reviving the case because “they're also performing their job. If this is how we can demonstrate transparency in our dealings, then let justice take its course. But as far as I am concerned the evidence presented on the complaint is weak.” Relampagos said there might be some sort of “blatant disregard of circumstances” on the part of the Ombudsman now in reversing its earlier decision. The case was dismissed by the acting Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro on July 2, 2008. Recommendation for its dismissal was made as early as February of 2001 by the office of the Ombudsman Visayas who made the preliminary investigation. There was no motion for reconsideration from the petitioners afterwards. Relampagos said that, during his time as governor, Bohol entered into a joint venture with Salcon firm to solve the perennial problem of water and electric services used to be run by the provincial government. He said the power rates at present, under the management of the Bohol Light Company, is the lowest in the province.

Both the power and water utilities, being run by Bohol Water Utilities, Inc., serve the city area only for now, he said, adding that after their privatization the province has already earned about P45 million, representing 30 percent in shares from the two private firms, under the joint venture agreement. Relampagos explained that the argument of the complainants that the PPUD had and assessed value of P1.48 billion at the time it was sold at P150 million, is just too far-fetched. “Where did they get that value? When in fact, the total asset of the province as of December 31, 1999 stood at P768,362,022,” the solon bared. Per certification by the Provincial Treasurer Socorin, the Bohol government already received a total of P52 million (not P45M) as cash dividend for the 30% ownership share of the Provincial government for both water and electric from 2008 to the present. The privatization of the former PPUD is a landmark in the country's privatization program.