Sandiganbayan: LMWD execs guilty of graft raps

TACLOBAN CITY , Philippines — The Sandiganbayan has ordered the conviction of former officials of the Leyte Metropolitan Water District—general manager Ranulfo Feliciano and director Cesar Aquitana — for graft charges over the unauthorized increase of salaries.

The order, dated January 27, 2015, found that the then board of directors of the LMWD issued Resolution 98-33 approving the salary increase of Feliciano “from P18,749 a month to P57,146 a month, without authority and in total disregard of the prescribed compensation based on the plantilla of personnel by the Department of Budget and Management.”

The decision stated that “the compensation rates of the officers and personnel of the LMWD must conform with the salary schedule being implemented by the DBM pursuant to the provision of Republic Act No. 6758, or the Compensation and Position Classification Act of 1989.”

Aquitana, a prominent eye-ear-nose-throat medical practitioner and owner of other businesses in the city, was a member of the then LMWD board.

The Sandiganbayan also found that Feliciano approved and received the salary increase, amounting to P506,246.26, which the court had ordered him to indemnify the LMWD, and to pay a similar amount as fine.

For violating the anti-graft law, the Sandiganbayan sentenced Feliciano and Aquitania to a minimum imprisonment period of six years and one month to a maximum of 10 years.

For committing malversation, Feliciano was sentenced to suffer the penalty of imprisonment of 10 years and one day of prison mayor as minimum to 18 years, eight months and one day of reclusion temporal as maximum.

Feliciano and Aquitania were also meted out the penalty of perpetual disqualification from public office.

Aquitania however could not be reached for comment on the Sandiganbayan order, but Feliciano told The Freeman it was not final and executory yet. He said he will appeal the decision, contending that the case was only politically motivated.

The LMWD is the biggest water district in Leyte covering Tacloban City and the towns of Palo, Tanauan, Dagami and Tabontabon.  (FREEMAN)