CLO tasked to probe extortion attempt
The City Legal Office (CLO), headed by Atty. Edgar Gil, was tasked by City Mayor Jerry Treñas to conduct an investigation on the alleged extortion attempt by an employee of the City Engineers Office (CEO) to a fertilizer firm located in Rizal, La Paz district.
CLO already notified several personalities to appear before the investigation.
Treñas immediately ordered the investigation after getting a copy of the purported letter and billing statement sent by a certain Ricardo Gumabong, who claimed to be an Electrical Inspector of the CEO, to the Philippine Phosphate Fertilizer Corporation.
Both the billing and the letter were dated May 8, 2006. The letter was addressed to Mr. Arthuro K. Velayo, vice president support of the Philippine Phosphate Fertilizer Corporation with head office in Makati City.
The News Today exclusively obtained a copy of the billing and the letter.
Among those who were asked by the CLO to appear in the investigation are City Engineer Marito Amatorio, Gumabong, the Manager of the Philippine Phosphate Fertilizer Corp. and the The News Today reporter who exclusively came out with the story.
No date has been set yet for the conduct of the investigation. However, it was learned that the CLO was directed to speed up the conduct of the investigation.
Gumabong, through a billing and letter addressed to Velayo, tried to collect money from the Philippine Phosphate Fertilizer Corporation in the amount of P16,724.00.
Gumabong claimed in his letter that he is an Electrical Inspector of the CEO. But, a source from the CEO said Gumabong is not an Electrical Inspector but a Master Electrician.
The total amount of P16,724.00 is allegedly for the annual inspection fee, the four copies of as built plan, and for the signatures of electrical engineers. Interestingly, only Gumabong signed in the purported billing statement.
Meanwhile, CEO chief Marito Amatorio has yet to break his silence on the controversy. He was always out of office when reached by the media.
But a CEO insider disclosed Amatorio already has an idea of the controversy since a representative from Planters Products Inc., owner of the warehouse occupied by Philippine Phosphate Fertilizer Corp., went to their office to check on Gumabong's billing.
The source said, it was even Amatorio who advised his personnel to ask Mr. Romeo Laud, Acquired Asset Assistant for Visayas of Planters Products Inc., to write a formal complaint and not just furnish them a copy of Gumabong's billing and letter.
At present, it was not yet clear as to what office Gumabong is detailed though he a source told TNT he is a regular employee of the CEO.
The administrative section of the CEO earlier claimed Gumabong is detailed at the Boarding House Commission (BHC) but this was denied by the commission. It was also alleged that he is detailed at the electrical division under Engr. Umahag.