MWSS chief faces another graft case

MANILA, Philippines - Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage Systems (MWSS) administrator Gerardo Esquivel faces another graft charge for allegedly allowing the overpayment of salaries for the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) last year.

In a four-page complaint filed before the Office of the Ombudsman yesterday, the MWSS Labor Association (MLA) accused Esquivel and his executive assistant Cecille Bautista of anomalous hiring of 21 students of the University of the Philippines Diliman under the SPES.

Backed by an audit observation memorandum from the Commission on Audit, the MLA said the 21 students did not pass through the Public Employment Service Office for proper evaluation and validation of the requirements as prescribed under the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 9547 or the SPES Act.

The labor union alleged that the students were paid at the rate of 75 percent of the daily minimum wage instead of 60 percent in accordance with the rules, resulting in the overpayment of 15 percent per student.

They said Esquivel issued office order no. 2012-063 on May 7, 2012 to hire the students under the SPES for a period of two months. 

“Esquivel, persuaded, induced and influenced by his administrative assistant Cecille Bautista, clandestinely in grave abuse of authority in total disregard of the IRR issued and approved office order no. 2012-063 for the hiring of students under the SPES,” the MLA said in their complaint.

The latest graft charge was the 11th filed against Esquivel, MLA officer Napoleon Quinones said.

Members of the MLA, Samahan ng Mamamayan Laban sa Katiwalian (SMLK) and the Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (COURAGE) held a rally in front of the MWSS office in Balara, Quezon City after the MLA officers filed the complaint.

“Esquivel should step down from office to honor President Aquino’s promise that MWSS will become an exemplary agency of his administration,” SMLK said in a statement.

“It appears that Esquivel duped the President by not telling him about the more than 40 consultants hired by the agency in violation of the rules,” the group added, referring to the graft charge lodged last year accusing the MWSS administration of hiring consultants who were paid salaries ranging from P5,000 to P400,000.

Ferdinand Gaite, national president of COURAGE, said the irregular hiring of 40 consultants by Esquivel and the MWSS board of trustees chaired by Ramon Alikpala Jr. was not in step with the Aquino administration’s Tuwid na Daan policy.   

“How can they claim to uphold the policy of Tuwid na Daan when appointees such as Esquivel are protected? The MWSS has reduced the benefits of its regular workers while engaging in the unauthorized hiring of consultants who received huge benefits,” Gaite lamented.