NEA exec faces criminal raps for soliciting P1.5M from cooperative

Office of the Ombudsman. PHOTO from www.ombudsman.gov.ph

MANILA, Philippines–Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales ordered the filing of criminal charges before the Sandiganbayan against on official of the National Electrification Agency (NEA) for soliciting and receiving P1.5-million from the Cotabato Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Cotelco) in May 2010.
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In the Joint Resolution made public Wednesday, Office of the Ombudsman charged NEA Acting Department Manager for Legal Services Omar Mayo for violation of Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

He allegedly received money from Cotelco, which is under the regulatory and supervisory authority of NEA. The money was then deposited to Mayo’s personal bank account in Unionbank. Investigation also showed that Mayo received a cash advance from Cotelco worth to P28,200.00.

Morales gave no credence to Mayo’s allegation that the money represented the litigation costs he advanced to another counsel in connection with the case involving Cotelco’s franchise.

The bare assertion, according to Morales, “cannot prevail over the contents of the undisputed Liquidation Report, Check Voucher, Deposit Slip, Audit Report and the anonymous letter stating that Mayo had been paid by and accepted from Cotelco the amount of P1.5 million as litigation fee.”

Aside from the criminal indictment, Mayo was found administratively liable for grave misconduct and meted out the penalty of dismissal from the service with the accessory penalties of cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, and perpetual disqualification for reemployment in the government service.

Meantime, the complaints against NEA Administrator Edita Bueno, Deputy Administrator for Legal Service John Joseph Magtulay, Deputy Administrator for Electric Distribution Utilities Service Edgardo Piamonte and Department Manager Veronica Cruz were dismissed for lack of merit.