Rama implements suspension of three engineering workers

CEBU, Philippines - Mayor Michael Rama has finally implemented the six months preventive suspension order issued by the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas against three Cebu City engineers who were accused by a project contractor of demanding a computer and camera from him.

But Rama explained that the preventive suspension of Assistant City Engineer June Nadine Sison, Engineers Juanito Pua Jr. and Joel Pasatiempo is not considered a penalty but only preventive.

Pua is the head of the construction division of the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) while Pasatiempo is project inspector.

The suspension order would take effect once the concerned engineers will receive the copy of the mayor’s order. While they are suspended, the three engineers cannot receive their salaries, but once they will be cleared of the case, they can collect the salaries intended for them.

The respondents earlier said the Ombudsman’s order would be tantamount to condoning the defective works of the complainant.

They are facing graft charges, grave abuse of authority, gross misconduct and conduct unbecoming of government employees for allegedly asking the gadgets from Robert Montenegro who is engaged in government projects  in Cebu City.

According to them the Ombudsman has committed grave and reversible errors on its findings that the evidence of guilt against them is strong without first examining the testimonial and documentary evidences of both parties.

They said had they been allowed by the graft investigators to present their side before making recommendations. They could have established all facts to refute the allegations of the complainant, they added.

The respondents claimed that it was market supervisor Lilianita Gucela who demanded the computer and camera from Montenegro because these were part of the components of another project undertaken by the complainant purposely to monitor the implementation  of the project.

It was even recorded in the minutes of the meeting conducted on February 20, 2012 that is why the respondents claimed that it is contrary to norms and ordinary human conduct to commit graft in the presence of other individuals and during official meeting.

They said what Montenegro did was just a form of harassment hoping that they will release the P150,000 representing the 10 percent retention of his alleged defective project in Barangay Adlaon.

In their motion for reconsideration of the Ombudsman’s order, the respondents submitted several photographs of the alleged defective project of Montenegro and asked the anti-graft investigators to inspect the project. —/JPM (FREEMAN)