Cotabato ex-mayor faces graft raps

The Office of the Ombudsman has found probable cause to file graft charges against the former officials of Banisilan, Cotabato over the anomalous implementation of the Aquino government’s flagship water program.

This was the first such indictment announced by the Ombudsman media bureau in connection with the Sagana at “Ligtas na Tubig sa Lahat” (Salintubig) program.

The Ombudsman said there was basis to charge former Banisilan mayor Betty Allado for awarding a consultancy contract for the P7-million project without public bidding in 2012.

Allado allegedly failed to prove compliance with the requirements of the Government Procurement Reform Act in awarding the consultancy contract to JK Engineering and Design and Consultancy Services.