Ex-Pandi, Bulacan water district chair, 5 others charged for failure to pay back wages of employee

The former chairperson of the Pandi Water District in Bulacan has been charged with graft before the Sandiganbayan for his alleged failure to pay the back wages of one of his employees in 2014.

The Office of the Ombudsman charged former chairman Mario Agustin with violation of Section 3(f) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

His co-accused in the case are former board members Ofelia Cruz, Rosalinda Marcos, Anicia Concepcion-Marquez, and Marlon Soriano. Ma. Isabel Avendano is the lone incumbent board member in the case.

The Ombudsman accused the respondents of conspiring with one another in discriminating and failing to pay the back pay of Elvira Socorro Santos from March 29, 2011 to August 20, 2014 pursuant to a decision by the Civil Service Commission on October 6, 2011.

The respondents allegedly acted "without sufficient justification and after the lapse of a reasonable time after due demand or request was made" upon them by Santos.

A P30,000 bail bond has been recommended for each respondent. — MDM, GMA News