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Friday, July 28, 2006
One of the engineers in 'cement scam' sacked
By Christine Mae Pelayo
AFTER a thorough investigation conducted by the City Legal Office (CLO) investigating team on the reported 200 missing bags of cement from the City Engineer's Office (CEO), Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia Thursday recommended the dismissal of Engineer Julio Belleza from service effective July 25.
Based on the final evaluation and recommendation submitted by the CLO investigating team before the Office of the City Mayor, the team found Belleza and casual employees, Renato Inion and Mariano Navarro guilty of dishonesty and grave misconduct.
On the other hand, Engineers Loreto Dilag, Joel Locsin and Ruben Tad-y including Belleza's driver Eduardo Vivero were found innocent on the mess.
Assistant City Legal Officer Ma. Gliceria Caduhada said the team found out that Belleza, Inion, Navarro and owners of Solid Gold Construction Supply and Concrete Products connived among themselves.
Caduhada also said that the testimonies of Vivero and the witnesses namely Dionisito Villamor and Engr. Joven Hison controverted the alibi of Belleza.
Based on the witnesses' testimonies, Caduhada said there was an intention of private gain on the delivery of the bags of cement, which constitutes to malversation of public property.
In the investigating team's final evaluation, they disclosed that they were not persuaded by the explanation of Belleza that the latter thought that there was no necessity of giving prior notice to a certain Mr. Erillo for the delivery of the bags of cement.
The team said, "Indeed, delivery to Erillo Compound at the Panaad Area was another alibi apparently concocted by Belleza. Vivero even testified that they did not know the direction going to Erillo compound in the afternoon of June 14, 2006. Belleza, if indeed he intended to deliver bags of cement to Erillo compound, it was supposed to be a delivery of only 102 bags and the 98 bags were unloaded inside the bodega of Solid Gold Enterprises."
Leonardia, in his 24-page decision on the administrative case no. 0606-01 for the dismissal of Belleza, directed CLO to make a study and recommendation on the appropriate case to be filed also against Solid Gold Construction Supply by the Gayatin family.
Cancel mayor's permit
City Legal Officer Allan Zamora, on the other hand, disclosed that the city can also recommend the cancellation of the Solid Gold's Mayor's Permit.
Further, in Leonardia's decision, he states that "based on the evidences gathered and testimonies taken, it was clearly established that the city's dump truck loaded with 200 bags of cement intended for the footbridge project was irregular and unlawfully delivered to a private bodega owned by Solid Gold Enterprises."
The mayor added that "the supposed purpose advanced by Belleza was a mere alibi because there was no actual purchase of the tiles on June 13, 2006 and if indeed there was a purchase, the same was done on June 15, 2006 in order to cover up the timely discovered anomalous transaction being undertaken inside the bodega of Solid Gold on June 14, 2006."
He further said that "there was an unloading of cement bags done inside the bodega and the bags of cement unloaded were carried or transferred to a Handumanan jeepney."
Moreover, Leonardia echoed the investigating team's evaluation, which states that "while the testimonies of Navarro, Inion and Belleza are essentially collaborative, they also contained material discrepancies."
(July 28, 2006 issue)
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