Ombudsman reopens lamppost case

CEBU - A four-man panel headed by Assistant Ombudsman for the Visayas Virginia Palanca Santiago was created to conduct the reinvestigation in the controversial lamppost cases after it was returned by the Sandiganbayan for reinvestigation.

Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol said Santiago has three lawyers to assist her. Apostol said he has given the panel one month to finish the reinvestigation to ensure that the 60-day period given to them by the anti-graft court will be met.

He said that to ensure that the reinvestigation will be finished before the deadline the Ombudsman will not be allowing motion for extension from the respondents to submit their counter affidavits.

Apostol explained that the counter affidavits that would be submitted would not also be long since these would only be supplemental to what have been already given.

He said that what the respondents need to answer is only the report of the Commission on Audit that found the procurement of the more than 1,800 decorative lampposts overpriced.

The Sandiganbayan earlier granted the motion to withdraw the information of the four out of the five cases involving the alleged anomalous procurement of the decorative lampposts in Cebu during the 12th ASEAN Summit.

The anti-graft court returned the four cases to the Ombudsman Visayas for reinvestigation.

The cases involved the officials of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu cities, the Department of Public Works and Highways 7 and contractors Fabmik and Gampik Constructions.

Former Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Ouano and Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Arturo Radaza are among the accused.

Also charged were acting engineer Hidelisa Latonio, assistant city engineer Gergorio Omo and engineers Mario Gerolaga, Alfredo Sanchez Sr., and Rosalina Denque, all of Mandaue City; city engineer Julito Cuizon, assistant city engineer Fernando Tagaag Jr. and engineer Rogelio Veloso, all of Lapu-Lapu.

Former DPWH regional director Robert Lala nd seven other DPWH officials in Central Visayas were likewise impleaded in the case.

Businessmen Isabelo Braza, president and chair of the board of Fabmik Constuction and Equipment Supply, and Gerardo Surla, chair of the board of Gampik Construction were also charged.—/NLQ  (THE FREEMAN)