Mandaue mayor barred from leaving RP

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Immigration has issued hold departure order (HDO) against Man­daue Mayor Thadeo Ouano and three other local officials of Cebu who are facing graft charges before the Sandiganabayan for their alleged involvement in the Cebu lamppost anomaly.

Officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways and the private contractor for the project are also being barred from leaving the country.

The BI has informed the anti-graft court’s Fourth Division of the HDO issued against 14 individuals who include Cebu City Engineer Hidelisa Latonio, Assistant City Engineer Gregorio Omo, and Isabelo Braza, president and chairman of the Board of FABMIK Construction and Equipment Supply.

Also placed on the HDO list were DPWH Regional Director Robert Lala, Assistant Regional Director and Bids and Awards Committee chairman Marlina Alvizo, OIC-chief, maintenance division Pureza Fernandez; OIC-Assistant Chief, maintenance division, Cresencio Bagolor; BAC members Agustinito Hermoso, Luis Galang, Restituto Diano, Technical Working Group members Teresa Bernido, Ayaon Manggis and Marilyn Ojeda.

BI Commissioner Nonoy Libanan said they issued the order barring all 14 individuals from leaving the country in compliance with the Sandiganbayan’s order on May 26, 2009.

Copies of the list were sent to the chief of the Immigration Regulation Division and head supervisors of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Libanan said.

The Office of the Ombudsman filed charges against local Cebu officials and DPWH executives for approving an allegedly overpriced street lighting project amounting to P83,935,000 when total cost should have been around P65.8 million only.