Ex-P’sinan mayor indicted for graft

BINMALEY, Pangasinan, Philippines – A former mayor of this town and a businessman have been indicted in connection with the lease of construction equipment without public bidding.

Former mayor Lorenzo Cerezo and Edwin Castillo, owner and proprietor of MTAC’s Merchandising, were ordered charged with 21 counts of graft for allegedly entering into several lease contracts from 2011 to 2013.

The Office of the Ombudsman said it found probable cause to charge the respondents based on a complaint filed by Annie Urbano, who claimed the municipal government entered into a contract with Castillo’s company without public bidding.

Urbano said Castillo is a relative of Cerezo.

In April this year, Cerezo admitted the contracts with Castillo’s company and claimed the municipality’s bids and awards committee recommended it.

The ombudsman said Cerezo and Castillo acted in bad faith and disregarded the rules on procurement.