Cagayan de Oro mayor Moreno indicted anew

Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno was indicted anew at the Sandiganbayan over the alleged anomalous lease of heavy equipment in 2009 and 2012 when he was governor of Misamis Oriental.

In separate charge sheets filed by Ombudsman prosecutors, Moreno was charged with two counts of violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices and one count of falsification of public document.

Moreno is accused of taking advantage of his position when he entered into an agreement with Earth Tools Development Corporation for the lease of one unit of Vibratory Roller from January 1 to July 31, 2009 for P2.5 million.

The contract, however, supposedly failed to undergo public bidding and lacked the justification on why Moreno resorted to an alternative mode of procurement.

His co-accused in the case are then-provincial administrator Patrick Gabutina, acting provincial budget officer Elmer Wabe, acting provincial accountant Divina Bade, and assistant provincial engineer Rolando Pacuribot.

A total bail bond of P30,000 has been recommended in the case.

Prosecutors also alleged that in 2012, Moreno gave undue advantage to Equiprent Corporation for the lease of its trailer truck worth P26,250 for the hauling of one D155 Komatsu Bulldozer on January 6.

Moreno allegedly approved the payment to Equiprent despite the lack of a public bidding, justification on the alternative mode of procurement, and a defective canvass as the amount fell short of the required price quotation from three other prospective suppliers.

He also "willfully, unlawfully and feloniously" falsified the signature of GEO Transport and Construction chief executive officer Alex Aguilar in the Request for Quotation to make it appear he participated in the bidding of the contract.

Gabutina, Wabe, Pacuribot, then-provincial general services officer Elsie Lopoy, provincial agriculturist Danilo Maputol, and administrative aide Leemar Tinagan are the other accused in the case.

Moreno and his co-accused need to post a bail bond of P54,000 for their provisional liberties.

Moreno is also facing numerous charges at the Sandiganbayan over the alleged anomalous lease agreements he entered into. He has already sought for the consolidation of these case.  —KBK, GMA News