DOLE officer pleads not guilty

CEBU, Philippines - A hearing officer of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) 7 pleads not guilty to the direct bribery case filed by a spa owner.

Wilfredo Wagas is accused of extorting money from businessman Johnie Lim in the amount of P12,000.

Wagas, 53, was assisted by his counsel Salvador Solima yesterday during the arraignment before Judge Raphael Yrastorza of Regional Trial Court Branch 14.

Lim, owner of Body and Sole Spa Franchising Corp., claimed that Wagas asked for P12,000 in exchange for the dismissal of a labor case filed against him by his five employees.

“Wagas asked for financial gifts for the settlement of the labor case and I gave P5,000 which he accepted. But on May 2, 2011 Wagas asked for more in the amount of P7,000,” he said.

Lim said he later reported the matter to DTI Provincial Director Nelia Navarro, who reported it to DOLE-7 Regional Director Exequiel Sarcauga. It was Sarcauga who asked Lim if he was willing to cooperate to entrap Wagas. On May 5, 2011, Wagas was arrested by police operatives headed by Chief Insp. George Ylanan in an entrapment operation at a coffee shop in Fuente Osmeña, Cebu City.

Lim filed the complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman on May 6, 2011 against Wagas.

Wagas waived his rights for a preliminary investigation to answer the allegations against him. This prompted graft investigator Maria Regina Hagad-Fernandez to elevate the case to the court.

Wagas then posted a bail of P30,000 for his temporary liberty.

The next scheduled hearing of the case is set on October 14, 2011 for pre-trial conference, Solima said. (FREEMAN)