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CEBU CITY, Philippines - The Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas has finished his review of the findings of graft investigators on the alleged overpricing of lampposts and streetlights for the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in 2006.
“I’m 99.99 percent finished,” said Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol during a radio program yesterday.
Several local officials from Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu Cities and top officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) were charged before the Ombudsman for the allegedly overpriced lampposts.
Apostol, however, would not reveal the findings. He said he would send the reoport to Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez for approval.
“Perhaps, we should give time for the Tanodbayan to look into this. She may modify, add, subtract or totally disapprove our findings,” Apostol said in Filipino.
When the investigation started, the anti-graft body ordered a six-month preventive suspension on several officials, including former Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Ouano and Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Arturo Radaza.
Meanwhile, WT Construction Inc., (WTCI) the contractor of the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC), is opposing the entry of Crisologo Saavedra as intervenor in the civil case for for collection of an unpaid amount of P262 million for the additional works on the CICC that the contractor is demanding from the Province of Cebu.
The WTCI asked Regional Trial Court Judge Ester Veloso to deny the motion of Saavedra, saying he failed to show that he has a “direct legal interest” in the case.
Saavedra, in his motion for intervention as taxpayer of Cebu, asked the court that in case the court rules in favor of WTCI, the payment for the additional works should not be taken from “people's money” but from the party who authorized the work. /Correspondent Jhunnex Napallacan with a report from Reporter Nilda Gallo
