POLICE arrested a former town official and co-accused of former Aloguinsan, Cebu mayor Cynthia Moreno in the illegal purchase of construction materials at 2:30 p.m., Friday, January 19, in Toledo City, Cebu.
Emelia Luz Celiz, 63, former Aloguinsan councilor, was caught in her residence in Barangay Poblacion, Toledo City, by the personnel of Regional Public Safety Batallion's 703rd mobile force company led by Senior Inspector Philip John Libres, who were joined by operatives of Aloguinsan Police Station led by Inspector Sigmund Freud Cruz.
Cruz, Aloguinsan police station chief, implemented the warrant of arrest after the town official was convicted of violating Section 3 (e) of Republic Act (RA) 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
She was convicted by the Sandiganbayan First Division chaired by Associate Justice Efren Dela Cruz.
The anti-graft court also convicted Cruz's fellow accused, including Moreno, Municipal Budget Officer Nonela Villegas, Municipal Agricultural Officer Marilyn Flordeliza, Municipal Assessor John Lim, Municipal Engineer Orven Nengasca, Municipal Civil Registrar Pepito Manguilimotan and utility worker Gertrudes Ababon.
Moreno and other accused are still at large.
The accused were sentenced to spend from six years and one month to 10 years in jail and barred from working again in government. The case stemmed from the procurement of aluminum composite panels from Diamond Interior Industries Corp. worth P1,190,037.50 without a public bidding, which is required under RA 9184, or the Government Procurement Reform Act.
Personnel of Regional Public Safety Company led by Senior Inspector Philip John Libres were part of the arresting team.
Celiz was brought to Aloguinsan Police Station for proper disposition and booking procedure to be turn-over to the issuing court.(KAL/SunStar Cebu)