Ex-Caloocan mayor, 2 others face graft raps

MANILA, Philippines – The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the filing of graft charges against former Caloocan City mayor Recom Echiverri and two other erstwhile city officials over alleged irregularities in a P2.97-million drainage improvement project five years ago.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales found probable cause to indict Echiverri for violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Aside from the graft case, Morales said former city accountant Edna Centeno and former budget officer Jesusa Garcia would be facing a complaint for falsification of public documents.

The ombudsman said the city government awarded a contract to E.V. & E Construction (EVEC) for the improvement of the drainage system along Molave street in Pleasantview Subdivision for P2.97 million in 2011.

The Commission on Audit issued a notice of disallowance in October 2013 after finding that the project had no approval from the city council.

“Without authority from the city council, Echiverri entered into a contract with EVEC, which constituted an unwarranted privilege granted to a private party,” Morales said.

The ombudsman found Centeno and Garcia guilty of grave misconduct and disqualified them from holding public office.

 “The administrative offense carries the penalty of dismissal from the service but in case the penalty can no longer be imposed due to separation from the service, it is convertible to a fine equivalent to the respondents’ one year salary,” the ombudsman ruling read.