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Echiverri faces graft cases anew over drainage projects

March 30, 2017 | 2:21pm

Echiverri faces graft cases anew over drainage projects

Just last week, former Caloocan City mayor Enrico Echiverri posted bail for two graft cases filed against him by the ombudsman early this month.

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MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman has filed another batch of graft cases against Enrico Echiverri in connection with the alleged anomalous drainage projects during his term as Caloocan City mayor.

In 10 separate case information sheets filed before the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan, the ombudsman charged Echiverri with five counts of violation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for allegedly “giving unwarranted benefit, advantage and preference” to several private construction firms.

Named as his co-accused in the cases were former city accountant Edna Centeno and former city budget officer Jesusa Garcia.

Centeno and Garcia were also charged with five counts each of falsification of public documents under Article 171 of the Revised Penal Code.

The ombudsman's graft investigation and prosecution officer Leilani Tagulao-Marquez said that from 2011 to 2013, Echiverri, in conspiracy with Centeno and Garcia, awarded five contracts with a total amount of P17.226 million to four construction firms allegedly without the required prior authorization of the Sangguniang Panlungsod or city council.

Under Section 458 Paragraph 2 (i) of the Local Government Code, the city council has the sole authority to approve the city government’s annual and supplemental budgets as well as to appropriate funds “for specific programs, projects, services and activities of the city”.

Based on the information of the cases, P5.592-million contract was awarded to RAR Builders Inc. for the restoration and improvement of the drainage system in Barangay 167.

Meanwhile, two contracts amounting P4.946 million and P3.174 million were awarded to P.B. Grey Construction for drainage improvements in Barangay 30 and Barangay 65, respectively.

A contract amounting P1.513 million was allegedly awarded to E.V. & E Construction for the improvement of pathwalk and drainage system at Villa C.C.O. in La Loma, Barangay 178, while a contract amounting P1.998 million was allegedly awarded to Caana Construction Corporation for the construction of a barangay hall in Barangay 154.

The ombudsman said Centeno and Garcia falsified five Allotment and Obligation Slips (ALOBS) to make it appear that the city council allocated a total budget of P21.904 million for the drainage improvements and barangay hall construction projects.

“When in truth and in fact, as the accused very well knew, there was no appropriation for the said projects, to the prejudice of public interest,” the charge sheets read.

The ombudsman set Echiverri's bail at P150,000 while Centeno and Garcia's bail were set at P210, 000 each.

Just last week, Echiverri posted bail for two graft cases filed against him by the ombudsman early this month.

The cases were also in connection the alleged anomalous awarding of contracts for two drainage projects amounting to P4.713 million allegedly without budget allocation and approval of the city council.

Echiverri had earlier repeatedly maintained that the projects were approved by city council and that the awarding of the contracts underwent proper bidding procedures.