CEO official recommends filing of administrative case vs. Gumabong
UMAHAG
After Gumabong, it is now the turn of officials at the City Engineer's Office (CEO) to pin down on the suspected extortionist turned whistle-blower.
Engr. Marcelino Umahag, CEO's OIC chief of the electrical division and Gumabong's former superior, has recommended to City Engineer Marito Amatorio the filing of an administrative case against Gumabong.
In his recommendation, Umahag said several complaints have reached his office regarding Gumabong's extortion activities specifically in the conduct of Annual Electrical Inspections in various commercial establishments in the city.
Umahag said Gumabong asked for "monetary considerations" to owners and managers of establishments.
He added that Gumabong is no longer connected with the electrical and safety division of the CEO. He is currently detailed at the Special Services Unit (SSU) under Errol Cudilla.
He said Gumabong is not authorized to conduct Annual Electrical Inspection without proper notice from Amatorio. There should be proper notices to the owners signed by the CEO chief and the designated electrical inspectors. I am not even allowed to sign in the notice for Annual Electrical Inspection, said Umahag.
When asked why they recommended the filing of an administrative case against Gumabong only now, Umahag said it is only now that they have received a copy of the complaint. He said, previously the complaints against Gumabong were only verbal and were not reduced into formal complaint.
Umahag used the letter of inquiry sent to them by Alicia Lasdoce, area manager of Rose Pharmacy in recommending the filing of an administrative case against Gumabong. Copies of his recommendation were furnished to Amatorio and to Mayor Jerry Treñas.
Umahag and Amatorio were among the CEO officials implicated by Gumabong in the alleged widespread racket inside the department.
Gumabong said employees and inspectors act as "fixers" in all transactions at the CEO.
In an interview with the members of the Iloilo City Hall Press Corps, Umahag denied all the charges leveled against him by Gumabong.
Amatorio also denied the allegations of Gumabong saying he is not receiving grease money and is not in any way involved in all illegal transactions at the CEO.