Sandigan orders arrest of ex-LRTA execs over P400M janitorial deal

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division has ordered the arrest of former Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) Administrator Mel Robles and 10 other former officials for a graft case over an alleged anomalous implementation of P400 million maintenance and janitorial contract.

 

“After perusing the information and carefully assessing the resolution of the Office of the Ombudsman, the evidence thereof and the records of the preliminary investigation attached thereto, the Court finds that sufficient grounds exist for the finding of probable cause for the purpose of issuing warrant of arrest in this case,” a minute resolution dated February 27, released to the media Thursday read.

 

The resolution was signed by Associate Justices Rafael Lagos, Reynaldo Cruz and Maria Theresa Mendoza-Arcega.

 

Aside from Robles, ordered arrested were former LRTA officials Federico Canar Jr., Dennis Francisco, Evelyn Macalino, Marilou Liscano, Elmo Stephen Triste, Eduardo Abiva, Nicholas Ombao, Roger Vaño, Maynard Tolosa and Juliet Labisto.

 

The court also ordered the arrest of private respondents Lilia Diaz and Dennis Acorda of the joint venture of COMM Builders and Technology Philippines, Corporation, PMP Incorporated and Gradski Soabracaj GRAS.

 

The Fifth Division also directed the Bureau of Immigration to bar them from leaving the country except when there is a written permission from the court.

 

“This Court, in the exercise of its inherent power to use all means necessary to carry its orders into effect, more specially, to preserve and maintain the effectiveness of its jurisdiction over the case and the persons of the accused...orders the commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration to hold the departure from the Philippines of the above-named accused and to include them on the Hold Departure List of the said Bureau,” a hold departure order also issued by the court on February 27 read.

 

Robles and some of the other respondents have yet to post bail as Thursday afternoon, the Fifth Division Office of the Clerk of Court said.

 

Robles and his co-accused are facing one count each of violation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

 

The case stemmed from the alleged anomalous implementation of the maintenance and janitorial service contract that the LRTA entered with the joint venture of COMM Builders and Technology Philippines, Corporation, PMP Incorporated and Gradski Soabracaj GRAS in January 2009 which was extended until July 2013 worth P400.6 million.

 

The former LRTA officials were accused of being partial to the joint venture by paying P3.37 million per month for the services of 321 janitors and maintenance workers but only 219 personnel were actually deployed.

 

The ombudsman said this caused undue injury to the LRTA worth P1.07 million per month or P12.8 million for 2009 alone.