Building Blocks

Ombud says CICC probe over before year ends

DEPUTY Visayas Ombudsman Pelagio Apostol assured yesterday that the investigation on the alleged anomalies in the construction of the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) will be completed before the year ends.

“I finished reviewing the complaint in three days, so I think there's a big possibility that the case will be terminated immediately,” said Apostol, who decided to endorse the complaint on the CICC to the anti-graft office in Manila.

Apostol criticized those reported sources who disclosed the findings of the fact-finding investigation and called them “incompetent, incredible, and irresponsible.”

“The investigators vowed not to disclose the findings on the CICC. I think my investigators didn't break that promise.The findings quoted in newspaper articles were just guesses,” Apostol said during the Multi-sectoral Anti-Corruption Council (MSACC) orientation yesterday.

He denied asking investigators to find evidence to clear Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and other officials over the construction of the CICC.

Had he wished to clear the respondents, Apostol said he would have asked the investigators not to consider some evidence regarding the CICC construction.

“Wala akong kinatatakutan. Even yong generals, congressmen, at si Erap kinasuhan ko. Paano ninyo masasabi na natatakot ako. (I fear no one. I even charged generals, congressmen, and even former president Joseph “Erap” Estrada. How can you say I'm afraid of anybody),” Apostol said.

He said he decided the Ombudsman Manila to review the findings of their office to get a “quality decision.”

“The investigation in Manila will cause a delay in the resolution of the case. But it will render a quality decision that can serve justice to the case,” he said.

Apostol, however, admitted the anti-graft office would want to protect government officials from harassment since about 80 to 90 percent of cases filed were intended to harass public officials.

But businessman Crisologo Saavedra wanted Apostol to resign from office.

“In Cebu, we could not allow him to do what he wants,” he said.

Apostol had recently decided to endorse the complaint on the CICC to the Preliminary Investigation, Administrative, Adjudication, and Review Bureau (PARB) of the Ombudsman Manila after the three handling anti-graft investigators, reviewing officials, and himself could not agree whether to upgrade the case to formal preliminary investigation and administrative adjudication or to dismiss the complaint.

Reports later said that Apostol allegedly asked investigators to find evidence to clear the respondents. Apostol denied the reports.

Apostol also said that he didn't know that his decision to send the complaint to Manila demoralized his investigators.

“They should stand to their own findings. It's just natural that we differ in ideas,” he said.

Anti-graft investigators Roderick Blazo, Joy Dacumos, and Elmer Gutierrez conducted a fact-finding investigation since 2007.

Last month, the three investigator were done with their report which was sent to Carla Juris Narvios-Tanco, head of the Public Assistance and Corruption Prevention Office (PACPO) of the Visayas Ombudsman; and Assistant Ombudsman Virginia Palanca-Santiago.

On 2007, businessman Crisologo Saavedra has filed a complaint for plunder against Governor Garcia and nine other individuals for the alleged overpricing of the CICC.

In the meantime, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmena said he was depressed with the Deputy Ombudsman's move on the CICC complaint.

“I'm just demoralized, I don't know all the details but I know the transaction stinks,” said Osmena yesterday.

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