(Eagle News) — Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales has ordered the dismissal of Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno.
In its order made public on Wednesday, also ordered to pay a fine equivalent to their one year’s salary were former acting provincial budget officer Elmer Wabe, former provincial administrator Patrick Gabutina, and former assistant provincial engineer Rolando Pacuribot.
All of them were barred from holding public office, and their retirement benefits were deemed forfeited.
The Ombudsman decision is in connection with the allegedly anomalous lease agreements made by the provincial government when Moreno was governor with Equiprent Corporation.
“The mode of procurement indicated in all the purchase orders for each payment was through public bidding, but no proof was shown that a public bidding was conducted. Also, at the time of the alleged bidding, Equiprent was not registered with the PhilGEPS as required under R.A. No. 9184, and in awarding the contract to Equiprent, the required documents were not submitted,” the anti-graft body quoted the Commission on Audit as saying.
COA issued a notice of disallowance on November 10, 2014 as a result.
Moreno was already ordered dismissed by the Ombudsman last year over other allegedly anomalous agreements.
But Moreno managed to secure temporary relief from the Supreme Court, which issued a temporary restraining order.
