Cebu mayors seek TRO on lamppost suspension

Two Cebu mayors linked to the overpricing mess over lampposts in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit last January have decided to legally contest their suspension. Sun-Star Cebu (www.sunstar.com.ph) reported Saturday that Thadeo Ouano (Mandaue) and Arthur Radaza (Lapu-Lapu) sought temporary restraining orders (TROs) from appellate courts. As this developed, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) head office temporarily reassigned to Manila its officials linked to the scam. On the other hand, the whistle blower in the scam sought police and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) protection after claiming some of those implicated are out to kill him. While it was almost business as usual in Lapu-Lapu City, Ouano’s supporters blocked the way to the mayor’s office in Mandaue, assailing the Ombudsman’s “vigilante justice." Radaza received the suspension order and temporarily handed over control of City Hall to vice mayor Norma Patalinjug, his challenger in the May 14 elections. He even kissed Patalinjug on the cheek and posed for photos with her during the “turnover." Ouano made no public appearance, even as his supporters blocked the stairs to his second-floor office, and the driveway was barred by a government-owned dump truck and a backhoe. Before noon Friday, Ouano’s lawyers had filed a petition for injunction and sought a TRO on his suspension. However, since no one was present to receive the suspension order earlier in the day, one city hall official had to go to the Ombudsman to get a copy to attach to their petition. If Ouano does not get a TRO from the appeals court, he will have to yield to vice mayor Amadeo Seno Jr, who is also running for mayor against Ouano’s son Thadeo Jovito. Radaza, for his part, said he also asked his legal advisers to file a similar petition, but in the meantime, said he “might as well start campaigning." His supporters wore red armbands but stood quietly in the lobby while the suspension order was served. Earlier this week, the Office of the Ombudsman ordered the preventive suspension of nine DPWH executives along with Ouano and Radaza, and eight other officials of the Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu City engineering offices. It reported “strong evidence of guilt" that some 2,300 street lamps bought for the international summits last January were “highly overpriced." Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said she was saddened by what could be called a “black mark" on the “Cebuanos’ finest hour" for successfully hosting the Asean and East Asia summits. City Engineer Julito Cuizon said he received the suspension order past 9 a.m. Friday, as did assistant city engineer Fernando Tagaan and Rogelio Veloso. For his part, DPWH secretary Manuel Bonoan called to Manila the DPWH officials ordered suspended by the Ombudsman for the overpricing mess. Summoned were DPWH 7 Director Robert Lala, Assistant Director Marlina Alvizo, Pureza Fernandez of the maintenance division, regional legal officer Agustinito Hermoso and Gloria Dindin, assistant director for maintenance operations. Lala’s secretary, Linda Taborada, said the director and his subordinate officials departed for Manila Thursday, hours after news of their suspension broke. DPWH 7 employees who attended Friday’s full council meeting of the Regional Development Council in Bohol said they are afraid the suspension of the agency’s key officials could hamper the completion of various projects they are implementing. Dindin maintained her innocence, pointing out that she could also be cited for insubordination had she refused to sign the documents for the purchase of the lamps and streetlights, which amounted to P365.87 million. She also lamented that in her 37 years with the agency, this is the first time that she was dragged into a controversy. Dindin represented DPWH 7 Director Robert Lala during the meeting in Tagbilaran City, Bohol. She refused to say what actions she and her fellow officials are taking, only that they will make sure their names are cleared. The lamps and streetlights, totaling 2,310 and put up in the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu, were bought for the Asean summit last January. Their price ranged between P85,000 to P350,000 each, inclusive of installation costs. DPWH 7 records showed that P43.3 million was allocated for the supply, delivery, installation, testing and commissioning of streetlights for both sides of the road from the old Mactan-Mandaue Bridge to Barangay Punta Engaño in Lapu-Lapu City. About P83.950 million was allocated for the lamps put up on the right side only of the road from the old Mactan-Mandaue Bridge to Barangay Punta Engaño. Manila-based Gampik Construction and Development Corp. and Fabmik Construction and Equipment Corp. won the contract of the lamps and streetlights. Punta Engaño Barangay Captain Angel Rodriguez said that only a few lamps were installed in his barangay where Hilton Hotel Resort and Spa and Shangri-la’s Mactan Island Resort and Spa are located and where some of the Asean summit participants were billeted. Rodriguez said residents even caught some persons attempting to pull out at least two decorative lamps. Meanwhile, businessman Crisologo Saavedra, one of the complainants in the lampposts case, said he is seeking assistance from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the police after receiving reports that one of the respondents is putting a bounty on his head. Saavedra filed an omnibus motion last March 26 asking Acting Deputy Ombudsman Virginia Palanca-Santiago for the immediate suspension of Ouano, Radaza, Lala and several others “in order to protect the documents now under their care and control." He also filed a separate complaint against DPWH officials for rescinding his P79-million contract for the traffic surveillance cameras for the summit. -GMANews.TV