Palace sacks LWUA chief Pichay

Monday, July 18, 2011

MALACAÑANG has ordered Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) to implement the dismissal order issued by the Office of the Ombudsman against the agency’s chairman Prospero Pichay Jr.

“Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa has written to Secretary Enrique Ona of the Department of Health (DOH) about the transmittal of the order of the Office of the Ombudsman for the dismissal of chairman Pichay. I have checked with the Office of Secretary Ona and they have written to the acting administrator of LWUA giving instructions to effect the order of dismissal by the Office of the Ombudsman,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said.

LWUA is under the DOH.

Acting Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro on July 4 ordered the dismissal from duty of Pichay and two other LWUA officials – acting administrator Daniel Landingin and acting deputy administrator Wilfredo Feleo – for their alleged unlawful disbursement of P480-million LWUA funds to invest in the Laguna-based thrift bank Express Savings Bank Inc.

Casimiro found all three liable for grave misconduct.

Valte said Pichay could still appeal the decision before the Supreme Court but his dismissal will be implemented immediately.

“He will be removed from post pending his appeal. But that does not foreclose his availment of legal remedies available to him that includes seeking relief from higher court,” she said. (Jill Beltran/Sunnex)