Ex-MWSS exec gets 8 years for graft

MANILA, Philippines — A former deputy administrator of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) has been sentenced to up to eight years in prison for alleged double compensation from 2002 to 2003.

In a 49-page decision promulgated on March 18, the Sandiganbayan found Virgilio Ocaya guilty of violating Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Ocaya was perpetually disqualified from holding public office.

The anti-graft court’s Sixth Division ordered Ocaya to return to the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) the amount of P129,600, which is equivalent to the double compensation that he illegally received from January to June 2003.

Filed by the ombudsman in 2014, the cases stemmed from Ocaya’s receipt of P240,000 in employment compensation from the PCGG from September 2002 to June 2003.

Ocaya acted as legal counsel for the PCGG while he was concurrently serving as deputy administrator of the MWSS.

In convicting Ocaya, the court sided with the prosecutors that his receipt of double compensation constitutes “bad faith” and “unwarranted benefits,” which are the key elements of a graft offense.

The Sandiganbayan said the period of Ocaya’s illegal receipt of double compensation was only from January to June 2003 as records showed that he was terminated from the MWSS in September 2002.

Ocaya challenged his termination before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 105, which led to his reinstatement to the MWSS in January 2003.

The court noted that despite Ocaya’s reinstatement, he continued to receive compensation from the PCGG until June 30, 2003.