A former Pangasinan municipal mayor was indicted by the Ombudsman for 21 counts of graft for approving P2-million worth of lease contracts for construction equipment without public bidding.
In a statement on Thursday, the Ombudsman affirmed the filing of charges against former Binmaley mayor Lorenzo Cerezo and Edwin Castillo of MTAC Merchandising.
The graft charges stemmed from allegations that from Nov. 2011 to April 2013, Cerezo awarded at least 21 contracts worth P2 million covering the lease of dump trucks, back hoes, pay loaders and cement mixers.
Cerezo awarded the contract to MTAC without public bidding.
“Without public bidding, the government was deprived of the best possible price for the lease of heavy construction equipment,” the Ombudsman in its resolution said.
Cerezo was accused of violating Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, which prohibit public officials from causing any undue injury to any party, or giving any private party any unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference in the discharge of his official administrative or judicial functions through manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence. CDG
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