Suspended vice mayor charged with graft

MANILA, Philippines - The vice mayor of Tanjay City in Negros Oriental has been charged with graft in connection with the alleged anomalous purchase of construction materials for the repair of canals.

Lawrence Teves, who was suspended by the Office of the Ombudsman for nine months last October for grave misconduct, was indicted before the Sandiganbayan on April 17.

Denver Bokingkito, former Liga ng mga Barangay president; Mar Francis Saguran, former Sangguniang Kabataan Federation president, and Bogard Colina, city general services officer, were included in the charge sheet.

The respondents were accused of giving “unwarranted benefits, advantage and preference” to Megatrend Enterprises in the purchase of construction materials amounting to P280,876 in June 2011 without public bidding. The materials were supposed to be used in the repair of canals in Barangays 5 and 6.

Special assistant prosecutor Jorge Espinal said the respondents resorted to an alternative mode of procurement without approval from the bids and awards committee.

Espinal said the respondents caused  “undue injury” to the city government, which was  deprived of the opportunity to obtain the materials at the ”most advantageous price.”

The ombudsman set the bail at P30,000 each.