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CEBU CITY, Philippines – The graft cases filed in relation to the alleged overpriced purchases of lampposts face yet another obstacle as these are either stolen or being destroyed by vandals.
Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol said their office will meet with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to determine who will pay for the destroyed lampposts.
“The lampposts are very important because it is our evidence against those people charged in court,” Apostol said.
He said the lampposts installed along some streets in Cebu, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu cities, are under DPWH custody.
He said the lampposts were not turned over to the local government units (LGUs) due to the pending cases against some local officials before the Sandiganbayan.
Apostol said some officials are refusing custody since they don't want to have anything to do with the controversy tied to the lampposts purchase.
“Anyone won't accept a project which has been reported as defective,” he said.
Two of the five cases were returned to the Office of the Ombudsman in the Visayas last October after a memorandum was signed by State prosecutor Dennis Villa-Ignacio and Tanodbayan Merceditas Gutierrez called for further investigation.
Two local officials included in the charges are former Mandaue City mayor Thadeo Ouano and Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Arturo Radaza.
Also charged are DPWH regional director Robert Lala, now director of DPWH-Manila, several engineers from the cities of Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue and former bids and awards committee chair Marlina Alvizo.
Others include businessmen Isabelo Braza of Fabmik Constuction and Equipment Supply and Gerardo Surla of Gampik Construction and Development. /Correspondents Ador Vincent Mayol and Jhunnex Napallacan
