LP mayor faces graft over alleged illegal hiring of workers

THE Office of the Ombudsman has approved the filing of a graft charge against Surigao City Mayor Ernesto Matugas for hiring 14 employees in 2011 allegedly without the approval of the city council.

In a statement, the Ombudsman said it would file before the Sandiganbayan a graft charge against Matugas, a Liberal Party member, for violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act over the approval of service contracts worth P1.206 million which caused undue injury to the government.

The Ombudsman said Matugas entered into job order contracts without prior approval of the Sangguniang Panlungsod in violation of the 1991 Local Government Code.

“(I)n entering into service contracts [for the period January to June 2011] without prior authority of the Sanggunian, respondent Matugas caused undue injury to the government in the consideration stated in such contracts, or an aggregate amount of P1,206,000,” the Ombudsman said.

The Ombudsman meanwhile dismissed the complaint against the hired employees for lack of probable cause. They are Balgamelo Ma, Philip Sykimte, Mario Gesta, Valeriano Ma, Cesar Concepcion, William Angob, Gilgie Degala, Karen Chastity Ma, Michael Litang, Col. Rodolfo Dela Piedra, Kim Olaivar, Maria Lowela Marasigan, Kim Jonas Orquillas, Jr. and Emilda Retorta.

Meanwhile, Matugas’ administrative complaint was dismissed following his reelection in 2013.

Mayor Matugas is the brother of Surigao del Norte Representative Francisco Matugas, who also chairs the Liberal Party in his congressional district.

Congressman Matugas also faces a plunder complaint before the Ombudsman for allegedly allocating some P63.5 million from his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) for the intelligence funds of local officials from late 2009 to the early part of 2010 or in the run-up to the elections. AC