Graft raps filed vs ex-Cebu mayor, 19 others

MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman has filed graft charges against a former mayor of Lapu-Lapu City in Cebu and 19 others for the alleged purchase of overpriced computers in 2005.

Former Lapu-Lapu City mayor Arturo Radaza and his co-accused were charged before the Sandiganbayan for allegedly giving unwarranted benefits to a company that supplied the computers to the city government.

Radaza’s co-accused were identified as Kein Enterprises manager and proprietor Jannet Valencia and former city officials Vincent Joseph Lim, Teodulo Ybanez, Fernando Tagaan Jr., Michael Dignos, Victoria Andoy, Elena Pacaldo, Rogelio Veloso, Cipriano Flores, Sharon Baguio, Buenaventura Igot, Jerico Mercado, Maribeth Sorono, Marita Guiao, Cleofe Solis, Leandro Dante, Ernesto Imbong, Rogaciano Tampus and Serena Uy.

The accused reportedly caused undue injury to the city and its residents when it procured 470 computers from Kein Enterprises for P23 million.

State prosecutors said the computers were overpriced by P12 million and did not comply with the specifications stated in the purchase order.

The prosecutors said the government officials were aware of the defects but paid P23 million instead of P10 million to the supplier.