Ex-LRTA execs charged in janitor deal

MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman has formally filed charges of graft against former Light Rail Transit Authority administrator Melquiades Robles and several others in connection with the anomalies in a janitorial service deal in 2009.

The charges, filed with the Sandiganbayan on Feb. 15, also include former LRTA officials Federico Canar Jr., department manager; Dennis Francisco, engineer; Evelyn Macalino, accounting division manager; Marilou Liscano, bids and awards committee chair; Elmo Stephen Triste, administrative department manager; Eduardo Abiva, BAC member; Nicholas Ombao, department manager; Roger Vaño, procurement services chief; Maynard Tolosa, division manager; and Juliet Labisto, human resource management officer.

Lilia Diaz and Dennis Acorda, representing the joint venture of COMM Builders and Technology Philippines Corp., were also charged.

The former LRTA officials were accused of being partial to the joint venture by paying P3.37 million per month for the services of 321 janitors but the joint venture deployed only 219 personnel.

The ombudsman said this caused undue injury to the LRTA worth P1.07 million per month or P12.8 million for 2009 alone.

The ombudsman recommended bail of P30,000 for each of the accused.