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CEBU CITY, Philippines - The prosecution’s decision to withdraw criminal information against former Mandaue mayor Thadeo Ouano in relation to the lamppost graft case was “irregular and uncalled for.”
Whistle-blower Crisologo Saavedra also claimed that the withdrawal would be a waste of time and money.
He said the case on the overpriced decorative lampposts installed for last year’s 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit had been languishing before the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court already.
Acting supervising prosecutor Robert Callos wanted to withdraw the criminal information during the Sandiganbayan hearing on August 1.
The move stemmed from a Commission on Audit (COA) report on the lampposts released after the Office of the Visayas Ombudsman issued its evaluation report.
But Saavedra said although the findings came a short while after, there was no reason for further investigation.
The businessman said the COA findings will not be contrary to the Ombudsman's evaluation report.
He said he was told by an official of one of the national government offices that the COA's findings on the prices of the lampposts proved these were “bloated.”
He said Fabmik, one of the contractors, filed a motion for reconsideration before the COA but it was denied.
“Because there was really overpricing in the deliveries and installation of the ASEAN lampposts,” Saavedra said.
Saavedra said the COA findings could not be adverse to the Ombudsman’s findings because the complaint affidavit he submitted to both agencies was the same.
“There is already enough evidence for the Sandiganbayan. The prosecutors could add it to their evaluation,” he said.
