Re-elected CDO mayor Moreno indicted for graft, suspended for 3 months

The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the filing of graft charges against re-elected Cagayan De Oro City mayor Oscar Moreno over the alleged anomalous lease contract for the implementation of the city government’s boxing program.

In a resolution signed by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, it said there is probable to charge Moreno before the Sandiganbayan with one count of violation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Also ordered charged with the same offense are city budget officer Percy Salazar and city accountant Beda Joy Elot. 

Section 3 (e) of RA 3019 prohibits a public official from giving unwarranted benefit, advantage or preference to any party or causing any party, including the government, undue injury.

The Ombudsman also found the three respondents guilty of administrative offense of Simple Misconduct and were ordered suspended for three months without pay.

Morales directed Mike Sueno, the newly appointed Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government to implement the suspension order.

Based on records of the Ombudsman, the city government disbursed a total of P175,000 for the space rental payments without the approval of the City Council or the Sangguniang Panglungsod (SP).

“Moreno did not secure authority from the SP CDO before entering into a contract in blatant disregard of the provisions of the Local Government Code [Republic Act no. 7160],” the resolution read.

Under Section 458 Paragraph 2 (i) of the Local Government Code, the city council has the sole authority to approve the city government’s annual and supplemental budgets as well as to appropriate funds “for specific programs, projects, services and activities of the city, or for other purposes not contrary to law, in order to promote the general welfare of the city and its inhabitants.”

GMA News Online is trying to reach Moreno for comment as of posting time. — VVP, GMA News