Cebu lawmaker pleads not guilty in lamppost case

Manila, Philippines -  The graft case involving the Cebu lamppost scam can now proceed into a full-blown trial after Cebu Rep. Arturo Radaza was finally arraigned before the Sandiganbayan the other day.    

Radaza pleaded not guilty to the charges, prompting the anti-graft court’s First Division to schedule the pre-trial conference on July 19.

Director Diosdado Calonge, who heads the panel of prosecutors handling the graft case, said Radaza was the last respondent to be arraigned because of the “so many incidental motions” he had filed.

The case filed in 2008 stemmed from the purchase of allegedly overpriced lampposts in Cebu for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit in 2007 when Radaza was mayor of Lapu-Lapu City.

The other respondents include former Department of Public Works and Highways officials led by Region 7 director Robert Lala, assistant regional director Gloria Dindin, and assistant regional director Marlina Alvizo who headed the bids and awards committee when the purchase was done.

The project cost P83.93 million covering street-lighting facilities which the Office of the Ombudsman said was overpriced by P13 million.