This is an administrative case against Governor Mateo S. Pecson of Masbate, who stands charged with a number of irregularities involving alleged abuse of authority, misuse of government funds and property, and threats and intimidation. These charges were investigated by the Integrity Board which found the following facts as having been established:

That the prisoners alleged to have been utilized by the respondent to render personal services in his official residence and in the construction of the garage used in his wife ™s transportation business did so voluntarily and during their spare hours only; and they have no complaint against the respondent.

As regards the charge that he borrowed truck tires from the office of the District Engineer for his wife ™s trucks, the District Engineer explained that he lent truck tires to the respondent ™s wife to avoid possible inconvenience to the public, stating that in the past he had also been borrowing tires from respondent ™s wife for the use of government cars.

That the alleged failure of the respondent to distribute cigarettes worth ?10,000 to government employees as intended, was due to the lack of interest on the part of the various chiefs of provincial offices and their employees in getting their shares and in depositing the money for the purchase thereof; and that as respondent did not want to assume responsibility for the value of said cigarettes, he indorsed them to a third party who was willing to advance the needed amount.

That in connection with the charge of misuse of government funds, the evidence discloses that upon representation of the respondent, the owners of two adjoining lots which were then being used as government nursery, agreed to sell said lots to the Province of Masbate for ?2,000; that the said owners, who were then residing in Manila, inadvertently executed the corresponding deed of sale in favor of the respondent personally, although the sum of ?2,000 paid: for the land was government fund; that respondent, not being a lawyer, was not aware of the apparent irregularity; that when his attention was called to it, he immediately executed the corresponding instrument conveying the property to the Province of Masbate; that respondent never took possession of said property nor benefited from any fruits or products thereof; that even prior to 1946, said property had always been used as provincial nursery under the administration of the provincial agricultural supervisor who sold the products therefrom for the account and benefit of the provincial government.

In the light of the above findings, the Integrity Board recommends complete exoneration of respondent. I have carefully examined and considered the evidence of record and I fully agree with the findings of that body.

Wherefore, and in accordance with the recommendation of the Integrity Board, Governor Mateo S. Pecson is hereby exonerated from all the charges filed against him.

Done at the City of Manila, this 19th day of October, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and fifty-one, and of the Independence of the Philippines, the sixth.


By the President:

(Sgd.) MARCIANO ROQUE
Acting Assistant Executive Secretary