Ex-mayor Echiverri charged with graft anew

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman has filed another graft case against former Caloocan City Mayor Enrico Echiverri in connection with allegedly anomalous projects entered into with various private firms during his term.

 

Filed before the Sandiganbayan on September 11, the case involves one count of violation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

 

Section 3 (e) of RA 3019 prohibits public officials from giving unwarranted benefit, advantage or preference to a private party and from causing any party, including the government, undue injury.

 

Named as Echiverri's co-accused in the case were former city accountant Edna Centeno and former city budget officer Jesusa Garcia.

 

Based on the information of the case, from May to September 2012, the Caloocan government during Echiverri's term as mayor, paid a total of P1.44-million to MRRM Trading and Construction owned by Maria Rosa Mandani.

 

Graft investigation and prosecution officer Michelle Villabesa said the payment was for the contract entered with Mandami for the supposed improvement of a service road in Intan Street going to Makaneneng Street in Barangay 155, Bagong Barrio, Caloocan City.

 

The ombudsman said the project as well as the payment to MRRM do not have the required prior authorization of the Sangguniang Panglungsod or city council.

 

Centeno and Garcia were also charged with one count of falsification of public document under the Revised Penal Code, in connection with the same alleged anomaly.

 

The ombudsman said Centeno and Garcia falsified an Allotment and Obligation Slip (ALOBS) to make it appear that the city council allocated a total of P4.36-million budget for the project, “when both accused very well knew that there was neither a specific appropriation for the said project nor a prior authorization from the Sangguniang Panglungsod”.

 

Under Section 458 Paragraph 2 (i) of the Local Government Code, the city council has the sole authority to approve the city government’s annual and supplemental budgets as well as to appropriate funds “for specific programs, projects, services and activities of the city”.

 

The ombudsman recommended to the Sandiganbayan to set Echiverri's bail bond at P30,000 and Centeno and Garcia's bail bond at P42,000 each.

 

This serves as the ninth graft case filed by the ombudsman against Echiverri this year in connection with the awarding of contracts for various projects, such as drainage improvements and road concreting, allegedly without authorization from the city council.