For alleged ghost project: 4 Lapu-Lapu residents report mayor to Palace

Four residents of Lapu-Lapu City have complained to Malacañang about an alleged ghost project that has reportedly been undertaken by their mayor, Arturo Radaza.

Included in the complaint that was received by the Office of the President last November 11, was Radaza's secretary Rolando Duero.

The complainants are Leonardo Mondrano, Salvador Aldave, Avelino Sajol and Remedios Durano, who claim to be residents of Lapu-Lapu City.

The Freeman was furnished a copy of the complaint that was received by the office of Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita.

The complainants alleged that from 2002 to 2003, the Lapu-Lapu city government hired Ven Ray Construction to construct a building for the Social Development Center situated right beside the City Hall in barangay Pusok.

When the project was completed, Radaza and the contractor of the project, together with assistant city engineer Fernando Tagaan executed a certificate of project completion.

The certification states that "the project has been duly completed as of August 28, 2003 and that all works incorporated therein as to materials, quality and quantity were done in accordance with the approved plans, specifications and other requirement."

Radaza even signed and executed, in behalf of Lapu-Lapu City, a certificate of acceptance of the said project. The complainants were surprised because three months later, Radaza and Duero again caused the preparation and approval of a new program of work bearing the description of the project "Construction of SDC building at city government center, Pusok, Lapu-Lapu City."

The amount for the new project is worth P396,030.45 for materials alone.

The complainants claimed that pursuant to the said program of work, Radaza caused the preparation and approved the corresponding purchase request of construction materials bearing for the sum of P395,815.95 and a check disbursement for said amount was eventually made by the city accounting office.

According to the complainants, "the respondents' deliberate and intentional acts of ordering and purchasing construction materials and disbursing public funds as payments for a project that did not even exist, constitute grave misconduct.

Mayor Radaza, who was contacted by The FREEMAN last night said that he would not comment on the matter until he receives a copy of the complaint. - Rene U. Borromeo with Pepe Sollano