Rama Executes Ombud Order to Suspend 3 City Engineers

Mayor Michael Rama has finally implemented the six-month preventive suspension order issued by the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas against three city engineers who were accused by a project contractor of demanding a computer and camera from him.

But Rama explained that the preventive suspension of Assistant City Engineer June Nadine Sison, Engineers Juanito Pua Jr. and Joel Pasatiempo is not considered a penalty, but it is only intended to prevent them from making maneuvers to destroy possible evidences related to the case.

Pua is the head of the construction division of the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) while Pasatiempo is project inspector.

The suspension order would take effect once the concerned engineers will receive the copy of the mayor’s order. The respondents earlier said the Ombudsman’s order would tantamount to condoning the defective works of the complainant.

They are facing graft charges, grave abuse of authority, gross misconduct and conduct unbecoming of government employees for allegedly asking the gadgets from Robert Montenegro who is engaged in government projects in Cebu City.

The three engineers claimed that the Ombudsman has committed grave and reversible errors on its findings that the evidence of guilt against them is strong without first examining the testimonial and documentary evidences of both parties.

They said had they been allowed by the graft investigators to present their side before making recommendations they could have established all facts to refute the bare allegations of the complainant.

The respondents claimed that it was market supervisor Lilianita Gucela who demanded the computer and camera from Montenegro because these were
part of the components of another project undertaken by the complainant purposely to monitor the implementation of the project.

It was even recorded in the minutes of the meeting conducted on February 20, 2012 that is why the respondents claimed that it is contrary to norms and ordinary human conduct to commit graft in the presence of other individuals and during official meeting.
They said what Montenegro did was just a form of harassment hoping that they will release the P150,000 representing the 10 percent retention of his alleged defective project in Barangay Adlaon.

In their motion for reconsideration of the Ombudsman’s order, the respondents submitted several photographs of the alleged defective project of Montenegro and asked the anti-graft investigators inspect the project.