Sandiganbayan orders arrest of former LRTA officials

The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division has ordered the arrest of former Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) officials led by administrator Melquiades A. Robles who were earlier charged with graft in connection with the

anomalous contracting of janitors for the maintenance of the LRT Line 1 System.

Ordered arrested were former LRTA Administrator Melquiades A. Robles, Department Manager Federico J. Canar Jr., Dennis Francisco, Accounting Manager Evelyn L. Macalino, special bids and awards committee chairman Marilou Liscano, administrative department manager Elmo Stephen P. Triste, member Eduardo A. Abiva, Automated Fare Collection System (AFCS) manager Nicholas G. Ombao, procurement services chief Roger L. Vano, division manager Maynard S. Tolosa, HR management officer III Juliet U. Labisto, and private individuals Lilia S. Diaz, and Dennis Acorda.

“After perusing the information and carefully assessing the resolution of the office of the Ombudsman...the court finds that sufficient grounds exist for the finding of probable cause for the purpose of issuing warrant of arrest in this case,” the warrant of arrest signed by Associate Justices Rafael R. Lagos, Reynaldo P. Cruz, and Maria Theresa Mendoza Arcega read.

The accused were earlier charged with violation of Section 3(e) of R.A. 3019, also known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for conspiring with one another back on January 5, 2009 and February 17, 2009 and with private individuals from Joint Venture.

The LRTA officials reportedly paid Joint Venture a total of 13,373,808.51 per month for the services of 321 janitors. However, they only used 219 janitors in the end, therefore modifying the terms of the contract.

This modification caused undue injury to LRTA in the amount of 11,072,615.63 in 2009 alone.

The bail bond is set at 130,000 each.