Suspension of Muntinlupa Mayor et al sought

from manilatimes.net:

THE Field Investigation Office (FIO) of the Ombudsman recommended placing Mayor Aldrin San Pedro of Muntinlupa City and 29 other ranking officials under preventive suspension, in connection with seven ghost projects entered into by the city government a few years back.

The investigation office panel found the ghost projects entered into by San Pedro and Vice Mayor Artemio Simundac, 13 city councilors, seven former and current officers of the bids and awards committee (BAC) four former and current members of the technical working group, former and current members of the BAC secretariat, treasurer Romeo Pucyutan, accountant Edwin Suitado, former auditor Ireneo Manalo and the three suppliers, namely Marisa de la Paz Rogelio (Nosotros Trading), Jerome Loredo Antor (Antor General Merchandise) and Gracia Oreta Hernandez (Rey and Grace Trading).

The seven projects that were deemed ghost by the FIO-Ombudsman panel of investigators are procurement of materials for the rip-rap of Pasong Diablo worth P1.9 million; roofing of the Tunasan City Sport Complex, P1.9 million; siphoning of septic tanks in various schools of District 1, P1.5 million; supply and delivery of materials to be used for the repair of dilapidated roofing, electrical fixtures and goals at Country Homes covered court, Putatan, Muntinlupa, P801,483; face-lifting of school buildings at Itaas Elementary School, P610,590; road repair at Freewill, NIA Road, Putatan, P613,655 and repair and replacement of dilapidated roofing and ceiling at Sitio Pagkakaisa Elementary School, Sucat, Muntinlupa, P742,455; for a total of P8,225,917.

Excluded from the charges of violation of Section 3 of Republic Act 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, is Abel Sumabat, former head of the BAC secretariat, because he turned state witness and is under the Witness Protection Program of the Department of Justice.

Sumabat executed a complaint affidavit on May 7, 2012 claiming that not all the coco lumbers and other materials for the projects purchased by the city government were delivered by the three suppliers.

Sumabat stated in his affidavit that he was the one who processed the documents allegedly on orders of San Pedro and convert them to cash then delivered the money to the erring officials.

The preventive suspension recommendation was signed by FIO-Ombudsman panel of investigators led by Ronald Allan Ramos, Ma. Jennifer Lacea and Roy Roque D.A. Datorn.