Extension of lamppost probe eyed

CEBU, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman Visayas may not be able to finish the reinvestigation into the lamppost cases within the 60-day period given by the Sandiganbayan.

Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol said they are looking at the possibility of filing a motion before the anti-graft court asking for an extension.

Apostol said that this is because they have just gotten a copy of the report of the Commission on Audit last week. He said the panel headed by Assistant Ombudsman Virginia Palanca Santiago will have to study the voluminous report.

While the report has long been released which was made as basis for their asking the Sandiganbayan to withdraw the information of the cases they filed to give way for a reinvestigation, the Ombudsman did not have a copy of the full report because they just viewed it from the Internet or the worldwide web.

It was only last week that they were able to obtain the full copy of the report.

The Ombudsman has until the end of the month to finish the reinvestigation. However, Apostol said they might be asking for an extension to finish it.

The anti-graft office earlier withdrew four of the five cases they have filed relative to the alleged anomalous procurement of the 1,800 decorative lampposts during the 12th ASEAN Summit.

The withdrawal of the information was brought about by the COA report that the Ombudsman wanted to be part of their evidences. In order for it to be part of their pieces of evidence, they need to give the respondents a chance to answer the report.

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

Former Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Ouano and Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Arturo Radaza were among the accused of the graft charges.

Also charged were acting engineer Hidelisa Latonio, assistant city engineer Gregorio 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 and seven other DPWH officials in Central Visayas were likewise impleaded in the case.

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