Contempt rap sought vs Ombudsman

Former Iloilo Gov. Niel Tupas Sr. has petitioned the Court of Appeals (CA) to cite the Office of the Ombudsman in contempt for allegedly hastily filing a P4-million graft case against him and three others in the Sandiganbayan.

In a motion, Tupas said the Ombudsman brought the graft complaint against him and his coaccused in the antigraft court on Sept. 9, a week after the appellate court had ordered the Ombudsman to comment on his petition for certiorari.

Accused with Tupas are ex-Iloilo provincial accountant Lyd Tupas, his former assistant Sandra Bionat and former general services office chief Ramie Salcedo.

Tupas, father of incumbent Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr. of the ruling Liberal Party, had sought a temporary restraining order from the CA questioning the move of the Ombudsman to investigate him for the alleged anomalous payment of P4 million for unconsumed electricity to a geothermal power supplier in 2009.