Ombudsman suspends 2 Cebu mayors, 17 others for 6 months

Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez ordered yesterday the six-month preventive suspension of the mayors of the Cebu cities of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu and 17 other local executives and public works officials for the alleged overpricing of decorative lampposts installed during the ASEAN Summit.

In a six-page order, Gutierrez ordered the preventive suspension of Mayors Thadeo Ouano and Arturo Radaza of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu, respectively; acting city engineer Hidelisa Latonio, assistant city engineer Gregorio Omo, and engineers Mario Gerolaga, Alfredo Sanchez Sr. and Rosalina Denque, all of Mandaue; city engineer Julito Cuizon, assistant city engineer Fernando Tagaan Jr. and engineer Rogelio Veloso, all of Lapu-Lapu.

Also suspended were Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 7 director Robert Lala, former assistant regional director Gloria Dindin, assistant regional director Marlina Alvizo, maintenance division OIC chief Pureza Fernandez, maintenance division OIC assistant chief Cresencio Bagolor, regional legal officer Agustinito Hermoso, planning and design division chief Luis Galang, administrative division chief Restituto Diano, and construction division chief Buenaventura Pajo.

Gutierrez directed the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the DPWH to immediately carry out the preventive suspension.

In a fact-finding investigation, the Ombudsman-Visayas found out that the cost of the lampposts was "expanded to almost 10 times (their) actual cost."