Ex-MWSS head, 7 others accused of plunder

Anti-graft watchdog Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) yesterday filed plunder charges with the Office of the Ombudsman against former Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) administrator Orlando Hondrade and seven other officials for an alleged anomaly in the P608-million septage treatment plant in Antipolo City, Rizal.

In a seven-page complaint, the VACC alleged that Hondrade, MWSS board trustees Andoni Dumlao and Ma. Teresa Habitan, and bids and awards committee members Macra Cruz, Darlina Uy, Leonor Cleofas, Dexter Santillan, and Estrellito Polloso were involved in overpricing the project by some P300 million and other irregularities.

VACC founding chairman Dante Jimenez said they have strong evidence to prove that Hondrade and the other officials “conspired to obtain and amass not less than P50 million from the government by overpricing and violating bidding procedures.”

The group submitted to the anti-graft body records of the transaction in 2006 between the MWSS officials and the contractor, Singapore-based Salcon Private Ltd.

The alleged anomaly, Jimenez said, was discovered by former MWSS administrator Lorenzo Jamora, who replaced Hondrade in 2007.