9 DPWH officials in Cebu finally suspended

Acting Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan said yesterday he has ordered the six-month preventive suspension of nine officials of the DPWH-Region 7 office who were supposedly involved in the anomalous purchase of lampposts used during the ASEAN Summit in Cebu last January.

Bonoan said the preventive suspension was in compliance with an order of Office of the Ombudsman, which found ample grounds to charge them for the lampposts’ alleged overpricing.

Relieved were DPWH regional director Robert Lala, assistant regional directors Gloria Dindin and Marlina Alvizo, maintenance division chief Pureza Hernandez and assistant chief Cresencio Bagolor, regional legal officer Agustinito Hermoso, planning and design division chief Luis Galang, administration division chief Restituto Diano, and construction division chief Buenaventura Pajo.

Bonoan said he signed the order last Tuesday and that it took effect yesterday. – Edu Punay