Fresh raps filed vs. ex-Caloocan Mayor Echiverri over P17M anomaly

The Office of the Ombudsman has filed a new set of charges against former Caloocan Mayor Enrico "Recom" Echiverri over the alleged anomalous drainage and construction projects in the city from 2011 to 2013.

Echiverri, along with former city accountant Edna Centeno and city budget officer Jesusa Garcia, was charged with five counts of violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Centeno and Garcia were, likewise, charged with five counts of falsification of public documents.

In separate charge sheets filed with the Sandiganbayan, the Ombudsman alleged that the respondents gave "unwarranted benefits and advantage" to the following companies for several projects from 2011 to 2013:

• RAR Builders Inc., for the restoration of T. Samson St. Extension and improvement of drainage system in Brgy. 167 in January 2011;
• Caana Construction Corporation, for the construction of the Brgy. 154 Hall from the period of May to October 2011;
• E.V. & E. Construction, for the improvement of pathway and drainage system at Villa C.C.O, La Loma, Brgy. 178 in June 2012;
• P. B. Grey Construction, for the upgrading and improvement of drainage along Antipolo St., Brgy. 30 from November 2012 to March 2013; and for the drainage improvement along Apostol and G. Del Pilar Sts. and improvement of alleys at Brgy. 65.

The total amount of the contracts entered into for the projects was P17.2 million.

The Ombudsman said the contracts were entered into without the prior authorization of the Sangguniang Panglunsod.

Meanwhile, the Ombudsman said Centeno and Garcia "feloniously" made false statements in the Allotment and Obligation Slip as to the existence of appropriation and obligation of allotment for all the projects.

This, even though they were both aware there was actually no appropriation for the projects.

The Ombudsman has recommended a total of P150,000 bail for each respondent in the graft case — P30,000 for each count.

Meanwhile, a total of P24,000 bail has been recommended for each respondent in the falsification case — P12,000 for each count.

Sought for comment, Echiverri insisted that he was authorized by the city council to implement the projects.

"'Yung case na 'yan arose out of the P1.4 billion loan from Land Bank. I was authorized by the council to obtain loan from the Land Bank. Again, I was authorized through an ordinance by the council to implement the development projects of the city," Echiverri told GMA News Online in a phone interview on Thursday. 

The former mayor also believes that there was no violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, as there was no evident bad faith in the implementation of the projects.

"Wala namang bad faith sa ginawa ko. I was authorized by the council. Ordinansa 'yun, so I have to implement it," Echiverri said.

"There is no manifest partiality kasi nagkaroon ng public bidding. In other words, nakinabang pa ang gobyerno dahil public bidding. And the project was completed. It's not a ghost project," he added.

Politics

Last week, Echiverri posted a P45,000 bail for the two graft charges he is facing in the court's Second and Third Division.

In an interview with reporters last Thursday, Echiverri insisted that his case was motivated by politics.

"Pinapalabas ng ating mga kalaban na in-implement ko 'yung project nang walang authority from the council. I was authorized by the city council through an ordinance tapos ang aking ginawang proyekto, it was ratified by the council through an ordinance," he said.

"Additionally, wala namang allegation sa complaint nila na illegal 'yung transaction na ginawa ko because there was public bidding," he added. — MDM, GMA News