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HE may be in the thick of preparations for next year's elections but former Mandaue City mayor Thadeo Ouano still has unfinished business with the Ombudsman which denied a petition he and other officials filed in relation to the controversial lamppost case.
In a decision issued last September, a copy of which was received by the Ombudsman-Visayas only last week, the anti-graft office said Ouano and the rest of the respondents failed to file a motion for reconsideration within the period prescribed by law.
The Ombudsman, through the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), said the law requires the respondents to contest a resolution within five days from receipt of the order.
The OSP also said that contrary to the contention of the respondents, the re-investigation by the Ombudsman Visayas has not delayed the resolution of their case since additional evidence were uncovered discovered against them.
?The Ombudsman Visayas cannot be faulted. They can hardly be accused of foot-dragging for, in fact, they lost no time in commencing the new preliminary investigation,? the OSP said.
Ouano, along with officials and the technical working group of the Department of Public Works and Highways in Central Visayas (DPWH-7) and officials of Fabmik Construction and Equipment Supply Co. were charged in relation to the alleged overpricing of 1,800 lampposts.
Only Mandaue City engineers Hidelisa Latonio and Gregorio Omo decided not to file a motion for reconsideration.
Last Friday, police authorities served arrest warrants against the 13 respondents who each managed to post P30,000 in bail.
Of the five cases, four were remanded to the Ombudsman Visayas for ?strengthening.?
Last May, the Ombudsman re-filed the four cases to the Sandiganbayan, including as evidence the Commission on Audit report on the purchase and installation of the P365-million worth of lampposts.
Meanwhile, Ouano?s rumored entry into the mayoralty race in Mandaue City would prove advantageous to Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes, his allies said yesterday.
Banilad barangay captain Glenn Bercede said Ouano's announcement of his plan to run for mayor showed the cracks in the alliance of the Ouanos and Soon-Ruiz? camp.
Ouano earlier told reporters that he may seek the mayoralty post or the congressional seat of Cebu's province's 6th district which includes Mandaue City.
Ouano and Soon-Ruiz teamed up against Cortes, who won in 2007.
The opposition occupied most seats in the Mandaue City Council.
Thadeo's sister, Opao barangay captain Joy Ouano, is set to formalize her entry into Cortes's party.
Bercede said he would welcome Joy Ouano to the administration's camp.
Joy Ouano and Bercede fought over the presidency of the the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) in Mandaue in 2007.
A case filed in court contesting the ABC elections of both officials is still pending.
