Ouano cleared in lamppost scam

CEBU, Philippines - The election of former Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Ouano as member of the Cebu Provincial Board saved him from any administrative liability on the controversial Association of South East Nations Summit lampposts which resulted to the dismissal of the case.

Ouano was earlier found guilty of gross misconduct and ordered dismissed from the service.

Since Ouano’s term of office ended in 2007, and the anti-graft office in its decision dated January 31, 2008 ruled that “the penalty imposed upon him be deemed implemented and accordingly reflected in his record of public service.”

But Ouano filed a manifestation and motion dated July 8, 2010 praying for the dismissal of the administrative charge against him for being moot and academic after having been elected as PB member of the Province of Cebu during the May 2010 elections.

Acting Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro approved on May 11, 2011 the dismissal of administrative charges against Ouano.

“His subsequent re-election to Office during the May 2010 elections operates as condonation of his previous misconduct and has rendered the administrative charge against him moot and academic,” the Joint Order reads.

While he is happy with the decision, Ouano admitted his family was hurt when the cases were filed considering they made Mandaue City known after the ASEAN Summit held in January 2007.

Although the criminal aspect of the case against Ouano is still pending before the Supreme Court after the dismissal by the SC Second Division was appealed by the complainant, Public Assistance and Corruption Prevention Office of the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas.

Two of the city engineers during Ouano’s term as mayor, Rosalina Denque and Alfredo Sanchez, Sr., were meted the penalty of six month’s suspension without pay each for being administratively guilty of neglect of duty.   

In the same joint order, the anti-graft office also denied the motion for reconsideration of other respondents and all were administratively found guilty of grave misconduct and each meted the penalty of dismissal from service.

For respondent Fernando Tagaan Jr., who is already deceased, the accessory penalty of forfeiture of all benefits stays.

Earlier, former Ombudsman Maria Merceditas Gutierrez ordered the filing of graft charges against then Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Arturo Radaza, Ouano, 19 other government officials and two civilians involved in purchase of P365 million worth of decorative lampposts in Metro Cebu.

In a separate decision on the administrative aspect of the case, Gutierrez ordered the dismissal from service of the 19 DPWH officials and Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue engineers for grave misconduct.

Gutierrez ordered the filing of graft charges against Radaza and Ouano and their respective engineering staff before the Sandiganbayan.

Charged were acting city engineer Hidelisa Latonio, assistant city engineer Gregorio Omo, and engineers Mario Gerolaga, Alfredo Sanchez Sr. and Rosalina Denque, all of Mandaue; and Lapu-Lapu city engineer Julito Cuizon, assistant city engineer Tagaan and engineer Rogelio Veloso.

Also ordered charged were DPWH-7 officials former director Robert Lala, former assistant regional director Gloria Dindin, assistant regional director Marlina Alvizo, acting maintenance division chief Pureza Fernandez, acting maintenance division assistant chief Cresencio Bagolor, legal officer Agustinito Hermoso, planning and design division chief Luis Galang, administrative division chief Restituto Diano, and construction division chief Buenaventura Pajo.

The Ombudsman, however, dismissed the charges against Teresa Bernido, Ayaon Manggis and Marilyn Ojeda, who were members of the DPWH’s Technical Working Group.

Two businessmen who bagged the contract —Isabelo Braza, president and chair of the board of Fabmik Construction and Equipment Supply Co., and Gerardo Surla, chairman of the board of Gampik Construction and Development— were also ordered included in the charge.

In the case of Radaza, the mayor was spared from the administrative penalty following his reelection as mayor in 2007 in line with the Aguinaldo Doctrine. But he was ordered to implement the dismissal of Cuizon, Tagaan, and Veloso. (FREEMAN)