Ombudsman to sue ex-Caloocan mayor Echiverri over P2.9-M drainage deal

The Office of the Ombudsman has found probable cause to file a graft case against former Caloocan City mayor Enrico Echiverri over the alleged anomalous P2.9-million drainage project in 2011.

The Ombudsman said in a statement that Echiverri will be charge with violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

The city government entered into a P2.97-million contract with the E.V. & E Construction (EVEC) in 2011 for the improvement of the drainage system of Molave Street in Pleasantview Subdivision.

The Ombudsman said that the Commission on Audit (COA) issued a Notice of Disallowance against the project in October 2013 after finding several irregularities in the project.

The COA had noted that the project had no approval by the Sangguniang Panlungsod.

“... without authority from the SP, Echiverri entered into a contract with EVEC which constituted an unwarranted benefit and privilege granted to a private party,” Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales said.

The Ombudsman has also ordered the filing of graft and an additional charge of falsification of public documents against the city government's former accountant Edna Centeno and city budget officer Jesusa Garcia.

It also said that Centeno and Garcia have been found guilty of grave misconduct and have been perpetually disqualified from holding public office.

"The offense of Grave Misconduct carries the penalty of dismissal from the service. In case the penalty cannot be imposed due to separation from the service, however, it is convertible to a fine equivalent to respondents’ one year salary," the Ombudsman cited. —ALG, GMA News