MANILA, Philippines – Two officials of Pasig City’s environment and natural resources office were suspended for 60 days while under investigation over allegations of bribery, Mayor Vico Sotto said yesterday.
City environment chief Raquel Naciongayo and her deputy, who was not named, had been suspended since Monday, sources told The STAR.
The Sandiganbayan convicted Naciongayo of graft last year for awarding a contract to hold seminars without a proper bidding. She is currently appealing her conviction, sources added.
Sotto posted on Facebook yesterday that he learned about a “trend” in the environment office of inspectors being “routinely told to look the other way” after they find establishments committing violations.
“If we want to clean our rivers, we need to be able to enforce environmental laws without fear or favor… without bribes and protectors,” he said.