Pasay mayor cleared of graft charges

MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman has dismissed the graft charges filed against Pasay City Mayor Antonino Calixto and 10 other public officials over the awarding of contracts for the city’s garbage collection in 2005.

Calixto said yesterday the filing of the case against him was politically-motivated.

“When the truth is on your side, you have nothing to fear. I am relieved that the truth finally came out and that we can now move on and put all this behind us. Through all the political mudslinging that came with this case, I stood my ground because I know that the truth will prevail in the end,” he said.

Aside from Calixto, cleared of graft raps were ex-Pasay mayor Wenceslao Trinidad and former councilors Richard Advincula, Lexter Ibay, Jose Antonio Roxas, Ma. Antonia Cuneta, Noel Bayona, Arnel Regino Arceo, Editha Vergel de Dios, Marie Irish Pineda, and Greg Paolo Alcera.

In 2005, complainant Juanito Delmendo alleged that Calixto, who was then vice mayor and presiding officer of the Sangguniang Panglungsod, conspired with the city councilors when they approved a resolution granting Trinidad authority to extend for several months the contract of “favored’’ garbage contractors without public bidding. 

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales ruled that the long delay in the preliminary investigation of the case, which took at least six years, is a clear violation of the respondents’ right to due process.