Ombudsman files graft, malversation cases vs Cebu officials over garbage bills

MANILA, Philippines – The Office of the Ombudsman has filed charges with the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan against a former Cebu City administrator and 10 other officials for malversation of public funds amounting to P239.73 million and one count of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

The officials, including former administrator Floro Casas Jr., were accused of approving inflated garbage disposal bills, leading to overpayments of more than P239.7 million. The city government allegedly paid P1,800 per ton, three times the contracted rate of P600 per ton.

The cases, approved by former acting ombudsman Dante Vargas on October 6 following a recommendation from Graft Investigation and Prosecution Officer Carla Chaves-Gonzaga, were raffled to the Sandiganbayan’s 6th and 1st divisions on Friday, November 28.

Prosecutors asked the court to set bail at P90,000 each for all accused in the graft case, while recommending no bail for the malversation charges.

Local officials charged together with Casas are Allen Ceballos, Recreation and Welfare Services inspection officer; John Jigo Dacua, head of the Department of Public Services; Romelito Datan, Local Treasury Operations inspector; Grace Luardo-Silva, officer-in-charge of Garbage Collection and Disposal; Jerome Ornopia, city accountant; and Mare Vae Reyes, acting city treasurer.

Private defendants are contractor executives John David Javier, operations manager; Jayra Angelic Ruiz-Javier, managing officer; and Erika May Quino, encoder, from DOCAST Construction/JJ and J Construction and General Supply.

The Ombudsman said the officials colluded with the contractor’s executives, granting the firm unwarranted benefits by repeatedly failing to review and verify its garbage disposal billings, resulting in the overpayments. – Rappler.com