Ombudsman wants update on CEO case
The Ombudsman Visayas has asked City Councilor Jed Patrick Mabilog for an update on the investigation conducted by the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) relative to the alleged anomalies at the City Engineer's Office (CEO) as exposed by former CEO employee Ricardo Gumabong last year.
OIC Deputy Ombudsman for Visayas Virginia Palanca-Santiago gave Mabilog five days to answer her query.
The Ombudsman's letter was dated May 23, 2007 but reached the SP only last week.
In her letter to Mabilog, Santiago reminded the former of the committee report filed by an ad hoc committee which investigated the alleged irregularities and procedural lapses at the CEO.
Mabilog, chair of the committee on engineering and infrastructure, is in Malaysia and is set to return tomorrow. He asked his vice chair Councilor Eduardo Peñaredondo and committee member Councilor Armand Parcon to make a reply to the Ombudsman in his behalf. The two refused because the Ombudsman specifically named him in the letter.
The Ombudsman investigation was a retaliation on the part of Gumabong. Gumabong, a former employee of the CEO spilled the beans on the alleged corruption inside the engineer's office and implicated City Engineer Marito Amatorio, Engr. Marcelino Umahag, Mrs. Imelda Aguadera and a certain Cadiz who is assigned at the Building Permits Application Section.
It was learned that Aguadera has already retired from the government service.
Gumabong earlier figured in a series of extortion activities using his previous position as electrical engineer of the CEO.
The City Legal Office (CLO) investigated Gumabong's alleged illegal activities but the latter never appeared in any of the hearings conducted.
CLO later meted him with 60 days preventive suspension.
In a radio interview, Santiago said they wanted to know what happened to the investigation made about the alleged CEO anomalies and also about Gumabong's alleged extortion activities.
She explained that the Ombudsman will only deal with the criminal aspect of the complaint. The administrative sanctions depend on the officials of the city government.
Santiago said they are conducting a separate investigation, the same reason why they are asking for an update at the city council.
"Based on newspapers reports, the corruption at the CEO is widespread. Copies of the reports were sent to the Office of the Ombudsman," said Santiago.