Ombudsman affirms graft indictment of Zambo solon

Former Zamboanga del Sur governor now representative Aurora Cerilles will be slapped with another graft case this time for the allegedly anomalous purchase of P15 million worth of solar lights using her husband’s pork barrel back in 2008.

The Office of the Ombudsman said Wednesday it has affirmed its decision to charge Cerilles and four other provincial officials with graft.

The case stems from audit findings that then governor Cerilles appeared to have railroaded the purchase of 40 sets of solar lights worth P14.9 million for the municipality of Dumalinao from the chosen supplier Willstrong Becker Phils. without public bidding.

The provincial government reportedly used funds from the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of Cerilles’ husband, then Zamboanga del Sur representative now governor Antonio Cerilles.

The Ombudsman said it will also file graft charges against provincial officials Rino Soria, Mark Anthony Padayhag, Wenefreda Cañada and Evelyn Pununcialman who sat in the bids and awards committee.

The Ombudsman said the provincial government “extended undue accommodation” to the supplier since the bids and awards committee decided to award the contract and Cerilles approved the decision on the same day the supplier submitted its price quotation. Dona Z. Pazzibugan