Controversial city hall employee executes sworn affidavit vs CEO execs
After having been caught red handed in his attempt to extort a fertilizer firm, controversial City Hall employee Ricardo Gumabong is now claiming that his former superiors at the City Engineer's Office (CEO) are merely trying to discredit him as a result of his request to be transferred to the city hall's Special Services Unit (SSU).
This was what Gumabong was trying to say in his sworn affidavit released over the weekend.
Lawyer Joshua Alim, a former city councilor, notarized Gumabong's affidavit.
Off hand Alim admitted that Gumabong has no documentary evidence to prove his allegations against top officials and employees of the CEO.
Gumabong in his affidavit claimed that certain CEO employees sell halogen lamps, electrical tapes and other supplies as their money-making venture.
He also alleged that most of the employees at CEO act as "fixers" in all several transactions.
Gumabong specifically named CEO chief Engr. Marito Amatorio, Engr. Marcelino Umahag, OIC chief of the safety and electrical division, and Imelda Aguadera of the administrative division as responsible for the illegal transactions at the CEO.
Alim however said Gumabong does not have evidences relative to his allegations but only "personal knowledge" having been employed at the CEO since 1992.
In the same affidavit, Gumabong denied he extorted money from Rose Pharmacy and Philippine Phosphate Fertilizer Corp. He claimed he has nothing to do with it and his alleged involvement in the string of extortion activities was a handiwork of CEO officials.
The News Today first broke the story on Gumabong's failed extortion attempt at Philippine Phosphate Fertilizer Corp.
Gumabong sent a letter to the company and a billing statement which he signed alone. The billing statement, allegedly in accordance with the National Building Code, was dated May 8, 2006.
Gumabong, claiming as electrical inspector, billed the fertilizer firm of more than P16,000.
However, Gumabong's attempt did not succeed after the Philippine Phosphate Fertilizer referred his billing statement and letter to the Planters Products Inc. in Bacolod City which owns their warehouse.
The Planters Products Inc. sent Romeo Laud Jr., Acquired Asset Assistant for Visayas to Iloilo City to verify the letter on May 22, 2006.
It was there when Laud discovered that Gumabong is not authorized by the CEO to inspect and collect money from building owners.