Labella wants Ombudsman probe into scrap

CEBU, Philippines- Considering that the Cebu City Council does not have “disciplinary authority” over its members, Vice Mayor Edgar Labella still believes that issue involving metal scraps from the old Cebu City Medical Center building is best resolved by the Office of the Ombudsman.

“I would rather that this matter be referred to the Office of the Ombudsman to avoid any perception of bias whether for or against anyone. Perception is very important in investigation especially if it involves political figures,” Labella said.

“The Council does not have disciplinary authority over its members. The council only has a disciplinary authority, as provided in the local government code, on cases where a member misbehaves in a council session,” he added.

An Ombudsman investigation would also put a closure on an issue that has been tainted with politics, he said.

In its report, the Commission on Audit has said the demolition of the old CCMC building was carried out without proper documentation and the scrap materials were not accounted for properly.

During its regular session last August 26, Councilor Noel Wenceslao wanted to pass a resolution that would call for an Ombudsman investigation but eventually chose to have it tackled this week.

“Noel did not push through with it because I think he deemed it appropriate to just have it included in the agenda,” Labella said.

Wenceslao, in his resolution, said it has been the clamor of the public to have the issue resolved.

“In the spirit of transparency and to absolve and clear the name/s of those maliciously imputed, there is a need to refer the matter to the Office of the Ombudsman, for the latter to do a fact finding investigation to resolve the CCMC’s scrap issue,” he said.

The city was able to retrieve over P13.38 million worth of items after the old CCMC building was demolished in February 2014 following the 7.2 magnitude quake that hit Bohol and Cebu in October 2013.

The items retrieved included generator sets, electrical wires and breakers, thread mill, aluminum water tank, compressor with motor, tiles, medical and computer equipment, and furniture worth P4,380,530.30.

These were turned over to the General Service Office for safekeeping and disposal. The 3,960 cubic meters of debris were dumped by DEPW at two sites along the road leading to the Tent City and at Pond A at the South Road Properties.

On December 4, 2014, the City Council conducted an executive session during which City Engineer Jose Marie Poblete admitted that JLC Construction, a Manila-based contractor, got the P1.86 million worth of bars, window grills, light recovery materials like plywood, woods, galvanized iron sheets, among others.

Poblete earlier admitted it is “normal” practice in the construction industry that the contractor will take possession of scraps retrieved. He clarified, however, that the amount of the metal scraps could not compensate for what the P7.7 million the contractor spent to demolish the building.  (FREEMAN)