Ombudsman asked to push for suspension order of city engineering workers

CEBU, Philippines - Engineer Robert Montenegro, a private contractor who owns the Fe & A Construction Services doing business with the Cebu City Government, asked the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas to direct Mayor Michael Rama to implement the suspension order against three city employees.

In his letter addressed to Deputy Ombudsman Pelagio Apostol, Montenegro said that Rama failed to implement the order until now.

“Taking into account the time that elapsed from March 5, 2013 and until the present, the order may not be implemented after all, to the great jubilation of the respondents who boasted that they are untouchables and the city mayor will not suspend them,” the letter reads.

Montenegro said that the order of preventive suspension was issued on January 9, 2013 and was received by the Office of the City Mayor on February 21, 2013 but it was not yet implemented.

Earlier, Rama asked the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas for guidance as to the implementation of the order after respondents filed a motion for reconsideration.

Apostol in response to Rama’s letter  had cited that a motion for reconsideration cannot stop the suspension order of the respondents.

Named respondents were Juanito Pua Jr., head of the construction division of the City’s Department of Engineering and Public Works; June Nadine Sison, assistant city engineer; and Joel Pasatiempo, project inspector.

The respondents were accused of graft and corruption. They were ordered suspended for six months without pay pending preliminary investigation.

The complaint was filed by Montenegro. He alleged the respondents demanded from him brand new computer and a “high-tech” camera. He also said the respondents also refused to release the ten percent retention money amounting to P150,000 of the road concreting project that he had undertaken in Barangay Toong despite several follow-ups.

In their reply, respondents denied the allegations.  They said they suspended the projects of Montenegro in Barangay Pahina Central based on a report of the “poor quality” of the contractor’s projects. Reportedly, Montenegro handles the stone masonry work in Barangay Pahina, Sitio Riverside and Sanciangko St.

With that, Apostol said he found enough bases to suspend respondents based on the complaint filed.

Rama, when sought for comment, said he will be leaving the matter to his legal counsels and city administrators. Rama said though that whatever may be the new order from the Ombudsman regarding the matter, he will follow it.

“If ang decision sa Ombudsman is to implement the suspension, my position is to have it implemented,” Rama said, dismissing the idea that the three concerned employees are untouchables. — (FREEMAN)