Cebu – The municipality of Cebu announced on Thursday the replacement of the officers named in a recent complaint filed by the National Bureau of Investigation – Central Visayas (NBI-7). – klajoo.com – “In order to maintain public confidence in our day-to-day affairs, we hereby relieve NBI-appointed city officials in the event of looting waste of all their duties and responsibilities,” the release said. Cebu City Press Mayor Michele Rama.
Mayor’s secretary, Attorney Collin Rosell, named the new officers, who will fill the posts of city accountant Jerome Ornopia, city treasurer Mare Vae Reyes and Department of Public Services (DPS) head John Jigo Dacua.
The newly appointed officers are Giovanni Delgado as city accountant, Anthony Aguhar as acting city treasurer, and John Paul Gelasque as acting head of the DPS.
On December 15, NBI-7 Chief Rennan Oliva said eight city officials allegedly conspired with a private construction company in a series of rogue transactions involving city garbage collection.
“The amount at stake is PHP 239,728,280.62 through overbilling, top-ups and ghost deliveries of junk,” Oliva said.
Other officers named in the complaint, such as former waste disposal supervisor Grace Luardo-Silva, were transferred to other departments. Silva is now co-leader of the Cebu City PROBE (Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification and Improvement) team.
On December 18, Rama advised the officers to take leave to ensure impartiality as the case progressed. – Rappler/RM
