Ombud drops complaint against Cortes, officials

THE Office of the Ombudsman in the Visayas dropped an administrative complaint filed against Mandaue City officials in relation to the delivery of alleged substandard housing materials for fire victims in 2009.

In her order, graft investigation and prosecution officer Maria Regina Hagad-Fernandez said there was no sufficient basis to suspend Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes and nine other officials who faced an administrative complaint filed by five persons.

“A review of the documents submitted, however, showed that the evidence is insufficient to confirm the possibility of respondents tampering the evidence,” Fernandez said.

Named as respondents were Cortes, former Cebu City administrator Briccio Boholst, City Social Welfane Officer Violeta Cavada, City Budget Officer Lamberto Marababol, City Legal Officer Eliseo Ceniza, Deputy City Administrator Eutiquio Sanchez, Bids and Awards Committee members Antonio Sanchez and Oscar Quirante, General Services Chief Dario Mago, and Sergio Dy of  Central Lumber Corp.

The complainants consist of Helen Sungahid, Evelyn Delionardo, Evangeline Soco, Letecia Singapolo and Leonardo Delacado.

In 2009, the Mandaue City government allocated P6-million worth of housing materials to displaced fire victims in barangay Umapad, Mandaue City.

Each resident was supposed to receive P10,000 worth of housing materials while those renting rooms will be given supplies worth P5,000.  The families claimed that the materials were defective and cost less than P10,000.

A City Council investigation showed that each displaced house owner received P9,690 worth of materials.

The Ombudsman-Visayas said the evidence isn’t sufficient to hold the officials liable. Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol