ASEAN lamppost inspections set

CEBU, Philippines - Starting October 24 concerned agencies will start inspecting the controversial ASEAN lampposts which were earlier ordered removed by Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama. Any possible evidence gathered may be submitted to court.

The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas, Commission on Audit, and the City Traffic Operations Management, during their meeting yesterday at the Cebu City Hall, agreed to conduct the inspection from October 24 to 26.

CITOM executive director Rafael Christopher Yap said they will start the inspection at 8:30 a.m. on the 138 lampposts along S. Osmeña St. and then proceed to Juan Luna Ave.

During the inspection, Yap said the Ombudsman will look for things that can be used as evidence in the pending case involving the lampposts.

“So if the case is about overpriced lampposts, then they will check for the quality,” Yap said.

The COA, through Technical Services Group engineer Allan Gajudo, will provide a checklist of what should be inside the lampposts.

CITOM will account for the number of lampposts and make sure they do not obstruct the sidewalks.

Yap said they will jointly conduct the inspection and later consolidate the data they have gathered during the inspection.

During the meeting, Yap asked the body if what they will be doing may be considered sub judice.

“Dili man daw ma-sub judice kay we’re not influencing the court to make a decision. This is in line with our request from the court, hoping na it will be considered,” he said.

Yap said the result of the inspection, if adopted by the court, may serve as evidence.

Yesterday’s meeting was a product of the discussion of Yap and the Office of Special Prosecutor Wendell Sulit in Manila where he was told to coordinate with the Visayas Ombudsman and the COA.

The agencies are working at having the lampposts removed from the streets as earlier ordered by Rama as the lampposts, which are supposed to be decorative, are already useless eyesores.

The lampposts were installed in Cebu City and selected areas of Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu City, for the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit in 2007.  (FREEMAN)