Friday, October 3, 2008

Ombudsman sacks 15 DPWH execs

Manila — The Office of the Ombudsman dismissed 15 officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) after finding them liable for different anomalies.

Overall Deputy Ombudsman Orlando C. Casimiro ordered Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. to immediately implement the dismissal of the following officials:

Wilfredo B. Agustino, regional director; Rudy G. Canastillo, assistant regional director; Edward G. Canastillo, acting district office head; and Cecil C. Caligan, acting district office assistant head, all of the DPWH-Iloilo; Rolindo M. Perez, acting district engineer; Vicente E. Vargas, acting assistant district engineer; Dennis P. Geduspan, engineer III; Mayo R. Pelagio, engineer III; Bernardo P. Yparosa, accountant III; Jose M. Javier, Jr., property custodian; and Pio M. Gareza, Jr., supply officer, of DPWH-Negros Occidental; Miviluz R. Aviles, chief of the Systems and Procedures Division; and Leticia V. Osorio, chief of the Medical-Dental Division of DPWH-Manila; Geronima E. Muncada, cashier; and Azucena O. Viojan, supply officer, both of the DPWH-Samar; and Abdulmunib Muksan, depot-in-charge of DPWH-8 in Leyte.

Agustino, Caligan, and the Canastillos were dismissed for grave misconduct after they were found conspiring to give “unwarranted benefit, advantage or preference” to one Rogelio Yap, the contractor for the construction of the Bancal-Leon-Camandag Road in Leon, Iloilo.

The Ombudsman’s investigation showed they conspired to make it appear that P6,733,329.23 was used for the excavation phase of the project, when what was actually spent was only P38,610. But since Agustino has retired, Casimiro imposed on him the accessory penalties inherent to dismissal, including cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, disqualification for reinstatement or reemployment, and barring him from taking any civil service examination.

Perez, Vargas, Pelagio, Geduspan, Yparosa, Javier, and Gareza -- all of the 4th sub-engineering office of the DPWH in Bago City, Negros Occidental -- were dismissed for grave misconduct in connection with irregularities in two projects for the improvement of the Camingawan-Pandan Road in Pontevedra town.

A special audit of the project showed P8,128,768.37 had been paid for materials and labor that had not been delivered or accomplished. In addition, P2,968,268.33 for materials and labor utilized in the project was not included among the paid items.

Aviles and Osorio were dismissed for dishonesty and grave misconduct. When Aviles incurred a three-month absence from work without filing the necessary leave of absence or authority to travel abroad, Osorio issued a medical certificate to cover up and make it appear she was sick and rightfully on sick leave, although records showed she was actually in Hong Kong.

Muncada was ordered dismissed for incurring a shortage of P4,586,839.35 in her accounts, consisting of unliquidated cash advances and checks issued without disbursement vouchers. Investigation also showed she altered several checks and placed her name as payee to be presented to the bank.

Viojan was dismissed for gross neglect of duty and simple misconduct after she signed checks totaling P1,371,852.75 even if these were not duly supported by necessary documents. She was also found to have received payment for a P94,967.50 check even if this was not issued in her name. /Inquirer/Cebu Daily News

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