15 face plunder, graft raps for garbage collection mess in Cebu City

CLEAN STREETS The Cebu City government ensures that its streets and residential and business districts are clean through regular garbage collection. Some local officials, however, are facing complaints over an alleged anomaly involving the city’s garbage collection contract in 2021. —DALE ISRAEL

CEBU CITY—The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Central Visayas has filed criminal and administrative complaints against 15 people, including former and incumbent officials here, in connection with a garbage collection scheme in 2021.

Rennan Augustus Oliva, NBI regional director, on Wednesday requested the Office of the Ombudsman in the Visayas to look into the matter and file charges against the respondents for plunder, malversation of public funds, graft and corruption, and violation of Republic Act No. 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

Oliva said the NBI uncovered anomalies in the city’s garbage collection, such as overbilling and padding or falsification of documents.

Named respondents in the case were former city administrator Floro Casas Jr.; Department of Public Services (DPS) chief John Jigo Dacua; and Cebu Environmental Sanitation and Enforcement Team (Ceset) head and former garbage collection and disposal in charge Grace Luardo-Silva.

Defrauding gov’t

Also among the respondents were Allen Omlero Ceballos, inspection officer of DPS; Romelito Asinjo Datan, city treasurer’s office inspector; Mark Abarquez Ugbinar, general services office inspector; Jerome Visarra Ornopia, acting city accountant; and Mare Vae Reyes, acting city treasurer.

The private individuals named in the NBI complaint were Jayra Angelic Ruiz-Javier, John David Javier, Erika May Quiño, Jay Alexander Ruiz, Maridel Ruiz, Robert Jay Ruiz and Jayvic Castrenz Ruiz—all of the Docast Construction and JJ & J Construction and General Supply.

Oliva alleged that the respondents conspired to defraud the city government and the public.

He said the city should have paid only P111 million as garbage collection fee to the contractor. However, investigators found out that the contractor collected over P367 million from the city government from January to August 2021.

Oliva said the respondents from the city government and the contractor agreed to falsify some documents to make it appear that the city government had to pay the much higher price in the collection of garbage in the city.

Reporters on Thursday tried to get statements of the respondents but only Silva responded.“I have not done anything wrong. I also didn’t steal anything. I didn’t become rich. In my 32 years of service, I can proudly say I was able to give my children proper education. I didn’t mind loaning money but not stealing,” Silva said in a text message.Silva said she was ready to undergo a lifestyle check to prove that she did not engage in anything illegal.

The case stemmed from a request of Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama to investigate what he described as an irregular and anomalous contract the previous administration had entered into with the contractor for the city’ garbage collection in 2021.

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