Sibugay mayor indicted for graft

MANILA, Philippines - Criminal charges have been ordered filed against a municipal mayor of Zamboanga Sibugay in connection with the alleged anomalous procurement of heavy equipment amounting to P8 million.

In an order issued yesterday, the Office of the Ombudsman said Mayor Gemma Adana of Naga town would be charged with graft before the Sandiganbayan for a questionable transaction that the municipal government entered into in 2007.

Aside from Adana, ordered charged were Roland Grijalvo, Felix Timsan, Emmanuel Enteria and Jonathan Cartagena, all members of the municipal bids and awards committee. 

Adana and the four respondents violated Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act when they changed the technical specifications of a road roller and a grader they procured from CVCK Trading, the ombudsman said.

Graft investigators said there was no evidence showing the price offered by the supplier was the most beneficial for the local government. 

The ombudsman said the charges of malversation and falsification of documents filed against the respondents were dismissed for lack of probable cause.

The charges against other respondents – municipal accountant Manuel Cuevas, treasurer Rodulfo Nercua, revenue collection clerks Helen Trono and Ernesto Yu, employee Elvira Carumba and Jose Ely Solivar of CVCK Trading – were dismissed for lack of probable cause.

Meanwhile, the charges against community affairs assistant Samuel Gealon were junked following his death.