Architect nabbed

Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI-7) yesterday arrested an architect who was accused fo not finishing the construction of a building although he already received payment for it.

Antonio Nacorda was arrested in barangay Pakigne, Minglanilla town after the court issued a warrant of arrest against him for  estafa charges.

NBI-7 Agent Bernard dela Cruz said Nacorda was accused of abandoning projects he handled.

The  arrest warrant was issued by Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Silvestre Maamo.

Bail was recommended at P80,000. .

The issue stemmed from a complaint filed by Edwin Geonzon who represented Jeffrey Ramos.

The architect  was paid  P1,576,075.96 for the construction of a three-story building in barangay Poblacion, Minglanilla.

Geonzon said Nacorda abandoned the project in July 2010.

Demand notices were sent to  Nacorda to complete the building or to return the excess amount not applied to cover the expenses to finish the project.

Nacorda, however, in his affidavit denied the accusations against him.

Nacorda said that Geonzon had no personal knowledge of the transaction between him and Ramos.

He said that the project assigned to him was a P357-million project.

He said the  P1,576,075.96 paid to him was  spent on  labor and materials for the construction of the building.

He said he didn’t complete the project because Geonzon terminated his services on June 10, 2010.

Nacorda denied misappropriating the money given to him. /Reporter Ador Vincent S. Mayol