Ex-mayor silent on conviction over lamppost scam in Lapu-Lapu City

CEBU CITY—The camp of a former Lapu-Lapu City mayor remained mum about the Sandiganbayan decision to convict him and 12 others in connection with the anomalous procurement of 199 decorative lampposts during the country’s hosting of the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit in 2007.

Local reporters on Tuesday tried but failed to reach a close ally of the family of former Mayor Arturo Radaza for statement.

Radaza, now 73, served as city mayor and representative of Lapu-Lapu’s lone district for several years. He did not run for any elective position in the 2022 elections.

He earlier sought the intervention of the Supreme Court to have his graft case dismissed. His petition, however, was junked by the high court.

Prison term

In 2021, the Supreme Court instead ordered the Sandiganbayan to proceed with Radaza’s arraignment and to “fully dispose” of the case speedily.

Aside from Radaza, also convicted were city engineer Julito Cuizon; engineer Rogelio Veloso; former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regional director Robert Lala; assistant regional director, and Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) chair Marlina Alvizo; maintenance division chief Pureza Fernandez; BAC and Technical Working Group (TWG) members Agustinito Hermoso, Luis Galang and Cresencio Bagolor; DPWH-TWG members Ayaon Manggis, Marilyn Ojeda, and Teresa Bernido; and Fabmik Construction and Equipment Supply president Isabelo Braza.

The Sandiganbayan ordered the imprisonment of all the accused from six to 10 years, with perpetual disqualification from holding public office.

The decision was penned by Associate Justice Georgina Hidalgo and approved by Associate Justices Ma. Theresa Dolores Gomez-Estoesta and Zaldy Trespeses.

Radaza and his coaccused were charged with conspiracy to give a firm preferential treatment and to defraud the government by increasing costs for the project.

Based on the investigation, Fabmik obtained the contract for the P83.95-million project to supply and install street lighting facilities in Lapu-Lapu City.

“The prosecution was able to establish the presence of collusion between and among the accused in making it appear that the preparation for the procurement and the award of the P83,935,000 contract to Fabmik was regular, proper and legal through a bogus negotiated procurement done with manifest partiality in favor of Braza and evident bad faith to the detriment of the public,” the court said.

“All of the acts of herein public officials and employees were calculated and performed for the purpose of making it appear that Braza won the bidding fair and square,” it added.

The case stemmed from a complaint filed by Crisologo Saavedra, the whistleblower in the anomalous procurement of the decorative lampposts, before the Office of the Ombudsman in the Visayas.

In 2008, the antigraft office concluded that the lampposts and other lighting facilities were highly overpriced after comparing the cost indicated in the Program of Works and Estimates with those in the commercial invoices of the Bureau of Customs.

In 2012, the lampposts, which were considered as eyesores and symbols of corruption, were removed from Lapu-Lapu City’s streets. INQ