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Saturday, April 22, 2006
Nalzaro: Rumors on road project
By Bobby Nalzaro
S/Supt. Augusto Marquez, Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 intelligence officer, described SPO1 Marcial Ocampo, suspect in the killing of Cebu City Bantay Dagat Commission project director Elpidio “Jojo” de la Victoria as a typical example of a police scalawag. Thus, he wants Ocampo dismissed from the service.
Marquez said he received information about Ocampo's involvement in the illegal drug trade in northern Cebu, especially in Bantayan island.
Oh, come on. I think Marquez is one police officer who just wants to grab the limelight from fellow police officers that solved de la Victoria's murder.
Since he supposedly had personal knowledge about Ocampo's illegal activities, what action did he take, being a high-ranking police officer? He just ignored the information? By doing nothing, it's just like he is tolerating Ocampo’s questionable acts.
Had Ocampo not been tagged as de la Victoria's killer, he could have continued doing illegal activities while in the service, that is, if he is really a scalawag. Marquez should therefore have placed Ocampo under surveillance and arrested and prosecuted him.
By the way, what happened to those alleged police scalawags assigned at the San Nicolas precinct and whom Marquez’s office investigated?
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I received information that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), through the Cebu City Engineering District, will soon undertake a massive multimillion-peso road rehabilitation program in the city's major thoroughfares in preparation for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit this coming December.
The total appropriation for this program is a whooping P100 million. The project has already been awarded to five Cebu-based contractors through negotiated contract.
Based on audit rules, negotiated contracts can only be entered into when there's a failure in the bidding process. There are rumors of offers to give 20 percent of the total budget for the project to top DPWH and local officials. Reports even claimed that a local engineer already delivered the initial amount.
The roads to be rehabilitated are: N. Escario St., P10 million; D. Jakosalem St., P10 million; F. Cabahug St., P5 million; Arellano Blvd., P4 million; P. del Rosario St., P6.5 million; Legaspi Ext. P6 million; Juan Luna St., P5 million; Cebu North Road, P10 million; Imus Road, P10 million; N. Bacalso Ave., P10 million; S. Osmeña St., P10 million; Osmeña Blvd. (Jones Ave.), P15 million.
Can the Ombudsman look into this transaction?
(bgnalzaro@gmanetwork.com)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (April 22, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
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