SUSPENDED AURORA GOVERNOR, 7 OTHERS FACE GRAFT RAPS

THE Office of the Ombudsman filed graft case against suspended Aurora Gov. Gerardo Noveras and seven others, in connection with the award of the contracts for the repair of the Dimalang Bridge approach of Casiguran-Dilasag provincial road and section of Casiguran-Dilasag Provincial Road in favor of a construction firm in 2014. In filing the case before the Sandiganbayan, the Ombudsman accused Noveras; Simeon de Castro, former Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) chairman; then-BAC members Paz Torregosa, Benedicto Rojo, Isaias Noveras Jr., and Norma Clemente; Ricardo Bautista who was also with BAC; and Manding Claro Ramos of RMCR Construction. The Ombudsman alleged that the accused conspired in awarding the contract to RMCR Construction by rigging the bidding process. It said the Notices to Proceed were issued to RMCR on August 15, 2014 and three days after, the projects were reported already 100 percent completed when the estimated duration of the road section of Casiguran-Dilasag

provincial road would take 30 days to finish per the Individual Programs of Work. A P30,000 bail was recommended for each accused. Earlier, the Ombudsman found Noveras administratively liable for conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service in connection with the alleged use of his dump trucks in a government project and ordered his nine-month suspension without pay.