MCWD employee fired for dishonesty

CEBU, Philippines - A team leader of the pipelines maintenance department of the Metro Cebu Water District was dismissed from service after he was found guilty of serious dishonesty.

The Office of the Ombudsman through then Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon Mark Jalandoni approved the recommendation of the anti-graft office in the Visayas to dismiss Nicasio Supapo from service.

Supapo was found guilty of the administrative charge for serious dishonesty after he failed to account over P1.2 million worth of materials.

The case stemmed from the complaint filed by MCWD general manager Armando Paredes against Supapo after he failed to explain the unaccounted brass fittings amounting to P1,214,980.

Supapo allegedly made a massive withdrawal of brass fittings from January to August 2007. An inventory conducted by the water district showed that several of those withdrawn brass fittings have been missing.

Supapo was directed by Engineer Noel Dalena, assistant manager of the pipelines maintenance group, to explain within three days why no administrative and criminal cases shall be filed against him.

Supapo only asked for three days extension to answer the memorandum but did not anymore submit his explanation. This prompted the MCWD management to elevate the matter before the Office of the Ombudsman.

On November 23, 2007 graft investigator Euphemia Bacalso summoned Supapo to submit his counter-affidavit but the latter again failed.

The anti-graft investigator was obliged to resolve the case based on the evidence presented. Bacalso said she found out that the respondent converted into his personal use the missing property. —