Ombusman suspends Guimaras district engineer for graft

10/31/2009

The Ombudsman has ordered the immediate suspension and for the conduct of a lifestyle check on a local district engineer in Guimaras province who is being accused of amassing properties while in office.

In a two-page petition, a group of local residents of Guimaras had earlier asked Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez to suspend District Engineer Teodoro Castillo of the provincial engineering district for allegedly committing graft and improper conduct of a public official.

The group accused Castillo of acquiring properties and new cars which are not commensurate to his salary as a district engineer.

“We pray that Ombudsman Gutierrez suspends Engineer Castillo and immediately conduct a lifestyle check on him,” the group had said in their petition.

The properties, which were not named to protect the investigation that may be conducted by the Ombudsman and the Department of Public Works and Highways, were said to have been bought by Castillo during his term as district engineer.

This is not the first time Castillo was charged before the Ombudsman.

Lawyer Plaridel Nava had also accused him of committing graft and filed a case against him before the Ombudsman last Oct. 13.

Nava alleged that Castillo violated the norms of conduct for public officials and employees as provided for in Republic Act 6713, one of which states that they “should perform and discharge their duties with the highest degree of excellence, professionalism and skill.”

“They should enter public service with utmost devotion and dedication to duty,” Section 4 (b) of RA 6713 further states.

Witnesses Miguel Enano III and Yulysses Umali, both residents of Barangay New Poblacion, Buenavista, Guimaras, said in their sworn statements that Castillo has been a frequent visitor of a cockpit arena located in Barangay Salvacion, also in Buenavista, even during office hours.

The two said they saw him last Oct. 2, a working day, at the arena. Jason Faustino

“Engr. Castillo is a known cockpit aficionado who can be regularly seen drinking and gambling in the cockpit arena in the province of Guimaras,” Enano and Umali said.

Public Works and Highways Regional Director Rolando Asis has ordered Castillo explain why he should not be sanctioned.

Citing the gravity of the complaint, Nava had urged the Ombudsman to place Castillo under preventive suspension pursuant to the pertinent provisions of Executive Order 192 and its omnibus rules.

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