Graft charges in lamppost mess re-filed

MANILA, Philippines – Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez ordered the re-filing of graft charges before the Sandiganbayan against the mayor of Lapu-Lapu City, the former mayor of Mandaue City and 19 other public officials for their alleged involvement in the 2006 lamppost anomaly in Cebu.

Gutierrez issued the directive after complying with the orders of various divisions of the anti-graft court for the conduct of a reinvestigation, further fact-finding and preliminary probe of the cases.

Separate complaints for violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act are to be lodged against former Mandaue City mayor Thadeo Ouano; OIC-city engineer Hidelisa Latonio; assistant city engineer Gregorio Omo; Gerardo Surla, board chairman of Gampik Construction and Development Inc.; and Isabelo Braza, president and board chairman of FABMIK Construction and Equipment Supply Company Inc.

Gutierrez said charges will also be filed against Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Arturo Radaza; city engineer Julito Cuizon; assistant city engineer Fernando Tagaan Jr.; and engineer IV Rogelio Veloso.

Graft complaints will also be filed against Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regional director Robert Lala; assistant regional director Gloria Dindin; assistant regional director and Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) chairman Marlina Alvizo; Pureza Fernandez and Cresencio Bagolor, OIC-chief and OIC-assistant chief of the Maintenance Division; BAC members Agustinito Hermoso, Luis Galang, Restituto Diano and Buenaventura Pajo; and Technical Working Group (TWG) members Teresa Bernido, Ayaon Manggis, and Marilyn Ojeda.

The respondents are accused of being involved in the anomalous supply and installation of street-lighting facilities for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in 2006.

The lampposts valued at about P365 million were allegedly overpriced based on computations made by the Office of the Ombudsman.

The original complaints against Radaza and Ouano, the DPWH officials and private contractors was filed before the Sandiganabyan in April 2008.

However, the complaints were withdrawn to strengthen evidence against the respondents during the trial.