Tugaya water official charged with graft

DAVAO CITY – The Office of the Ombudsman ordered the filing of charges against Jamaloden Faisal, acting general manager of the Tugaya Water District, for the alleged misuse of 110 million for a water supply project which turned out to be “non-existent” in Tugaya, Lanao del Sur.

In its decision dated August 7, the Ombudsman ordered the filing of charges against Faisal, along with a certain Alikahn Ebrahim of Nascon Builders, for Malversation of Public Funds and a violation of Section 3(e) of the RA 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

According to the Ombudsman, Faisal received 110,074,680 as part of the initial funding for a water supply improvement project in 2011.

During fact-finding investigation conducted by the Ombudsman Field Investigation Unit in Davao City, it was “found that the water project was nonexistent and that fake liquidation documents were submitted by respondents to support the ghost project.”

It added that a joint affidavit of inspection was also submitted by a team from National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), which stated that the reservoirs funded by the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) were non-existent based on the Development Map and Detailed Cost Estimate of the Project.

“The fact that the water supply improvement project is non-existent is sufficient proof to engender a well-founded belief that public funds were misappropriated for respondent Faisal’s own private use or benefit,” Ombudsman resolution reads. (Antonio L. Colina IV)