Sandiganbayan orders arrest of ex-MWSS administrator

MANILA, Philippines - The Sandiganbayan has issued an arrest warrant against former Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage Systems (MWSS) administrator Orlando Hondrade who is facing charges for alleged misuse of P19.36 million in public funds eight years ago.

Associate Justice Efren de la Cruz, chairman o   f the anti-graft court’s First Division, issued the arrest order two weeks after the Office of the Ombudsman filed a criminal case against the respondent.

Copies of the arrest warrant have been sent to various units of the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation.

Hondrade is accused of spending almost P20 million in MWSS emergency funds to rent a helicopter in 2004 from Asia Aircraft Overseas Philippines Inc.

The Office of the Ombudsman said the money was supposed to be used for the construction of an emergency bridge and the clearing of areas of the Umiray-Angat Transbasin Project affected by typhoons “Winnie” and “Yoyong.”

Since the money was used for purposes other than what it was intended for, the anti-graft agency found probable cause against Hondrade to indict him for illegal use of government funds.