Ex-Caloocan mayor Echiverri posts bail for graft

MANILA, Philippines -  Former Caloocan City mayor Enrico “Recom” Echiverri yesterday posted bail for a graft case in connection with an allegedly anomalous drainage project in 2011.

Echiverri posted P15,000 bail shortly after he was arrested by the sheriff at Sandiganbayan Third Division yesterday afternoon. He was at the anti-graft court to attend the hearing of his motion to dismiss the cases against him when he was served a warrant of arrest dated March 10.

Echiverri, apparently caught off-guard, asked for a 50 percent reduction of his bail bond or from P30,000 to P15,000. The court granted his request.

Meanwhile, Echiverri’s co-accused, former city accountant Edna Centeno and former city budget officer Jesusa Garcia, also posted a reduced bail of P21,000 each for their cases of graft and falsification of public documents.

The three former officials are accused of awarding a P1.9 million drainage improvement contract in Amparo Subdivision to Golden 3T Construction in 2011 without authorization from the city council.

Echiverri, Centeno and Garcia are also facing another graft case before the Sandiganbayan’s Second Division in connection with awarding a P2.7-million drainage project deal in Pleasantview Subdivision to E.V. & E Construction.

The Second Division has yet to issue a warrant of arrest against Echiverri and his co-accused.

In an interview with reporters after posting bail, Echiverri maintained that the projects are aboveboard, as proven by two resolutions from the city council and another resolution by the city’s bids and awards committee.