Palace gets Ombudsman order for Pichay dismissal

MANILA, Philippines – Local Water Utilities Administration head Prospero Pichay’s days as LWUA administrator are numbered, Malacañang said on Friday.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Malacañang has received an order from the Office of the Ombudsman calling for Pichay’s dismissal.

“The order has been formally transmitted to the Office of the President so the ball is now with us,” Valte said during its weekly news briefing at Malacanang.

“The next step there is the Office of the President will order the Department of Health under Secretary [Enrique] Ona to implement the dismissal order,” she added. The LWUA is under the supervision of the DoH.

The Ombudsman found Pichay liable for grave misconduct for alleged unlawful disbursement of more than P700 million in 2008.