Ombuds forms panel to probe lamp mess

The Office of the Ombudsman has formed a panel that would investigate those indicted in the alleged overpricing of the decorative lampposts and street lighting facilities used during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit in January.

Ombudsman director Edgardo Canton yesterday said a panel of investigators is necessary "considering the gravity of the charges and the number of respondents." The panel would be composed of graft investigators Samuel Malazarte, Sara Jo Vergara and Jane Aguilar.

Last week, the fact-finding committee has found reasonable grounds to indict Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Ouano, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Arturo Radaza, and high-ranking officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways for alleged violation of Republic Act 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Also indicted were former DPWH regional director Gloria Dindin, regional director Roberto Lala, assistant regional director Marlina Alvizo, DPWH maintenance division officer-in-charge Pureza Fernandez and her assistant, Cresencio Bagolor.

The other respondents include Mandaue City engineer Hidelisa Latonio, Mario Gerolaga, Alfredo Sanchez, Rosalina Denque and Gregorio Omo, all of the Mandue City Engineering office. Also charged were Lapu-Lapu City engineer Julito Cuizon and his assistants, Fernando Tagaan Jr. and Rogelio Veloso.

Others facing the charge are members of the Bids and Awards Committee composed of lawyer Agustinito Hermoso, DPWH regional legal officer Luis Galang, planning and design division chief Restituto Diano, administrative division chief Buenaventura Pajo, Fabmik Construction and Development Corporation and Gampik Construction and Development Corporation.

The newly formed panel of investigators will investigate both the administrative and criminal aspects of the case. Canton said the first thing the panel would do is to require the respondents to submit their evidence against what was unearthed by the fact-finding committee.

Canton said while the fact-finding panel has exhausted its probe, it is not impossible that more public officials would be indicted as the formal investigation continues. He said they are now studying the possibility of preventively suspending the public officials, as recommended by the fact-finding committee.

Should there be any suspended public official who will win in the May 14 elections, Canton said the Ombudsman would be compelled to drop the administrative aspect of the case against that public official by virtue of the Aguinaldo Doctrine, a law that exonerates public officials from offenses they have committed during their previous term of office.

After three weeks of fact-finding, the panel had found out that the 1,860 pieces of decorative lampposts and street lighting facilities installed during the summit were indeed overpriced. - Joeberth M. Ocao /LPM