Ex-Cebu City exec ‘medyo happy’ over dismissal of plunder case

Local

INDICTED but relieved.

Former Cebu City Administrator Floro Casas Jr. welcomed the Ombudsman’s dismissal of the plunder complaint against him and several other officials over the controversial P239-million garbage deal.

He called it a "heavy burden" lifted, though he plans to appeal the remaining charges through a motion for reconsideration.

“Medyo happy ko ana nga resolution because the Ombudsman found nga dili tinuod nga naay plunder,” Casas said in an interview. “Bug-at man gud ang plunder paminawon kay kawat man gud na sa kwarta sa gobyerno. Diha nga dapita, nagpasalamat mi.”

The Office of the Ombudsman recently found probable cause to charge Casas and seven other current and former Cebu City officials with malversation of public funds and violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, following an investigation into alleged anomalies in the city’s garbage collection contract during the previous administration.

The complaint was initiated by then-Mayor Michael Rama and filed by the National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI-7) in 2022. It involved alleged overbilling, document falsification, and padded claims in waste disposal services awarded in 2021.

Casas emphasized that while he is relieved the plunder case was dropped, he and his co-respondents were still recommended for prosecution for malversation.

“But ang among kalipay dili siya tibuok kay gi-recommend man gihapon nga i-file mi for malversation,” he said. “According to the Ombudsman, negligent daw mi sa among trabaho in releasing the payment—wala daw namo kompletoha ug tan-aw ang mga dokumento.”

He stressed, however, that the decision is not yet final and that he intends to exhaust all legal remedies available.

“Actually, wala pa ko kadawat ug kopya sa akong resolution—either criminal or administrative,” Casas said. “But once I receive it, naa pa koy five days to file a motion for reconsideration. So dili pa ni siya final.”

He clarified that the issuance of a possible arrest warrant is not automatic and would have to follow a process.

“Ang korte man ang mo-issue ug warrant—not the Ombudsman. The case will still go through the approval of the Ombudsman Central Office in Manila before it reaches the court,” he said.

Also named in the Ombudsman’s resolution were Department of Public Services (DPS) chief John Jigo Dacua, Cebu Environmental Sanitation and Enforcement Team (Ceset) head Grace Luardo-Silva, DPS inspection officer Allen Omlero Ceballos, city treasurer’s office inspector Romelito Asinjo Datan, general services office inspector Mark Abarquez Ugbinar, acting city accountant Jerome Visarra Ornopia, and acting city treasurer Mare Vae Reyes.

In a separate interview, Dacua said he respects the Ombudsman’s findings but also intends to appeal, noting that the plunder charge, which carries a heavier penalty, was dropped.

The Ombudsman also issued an administrative ruling ordering the dismissal from service of those found liable, along with the forfeiture of retirement benefits, perpetual disqualification from public office, and a lifetime ban from taking the civil service examination.

Meanwhile, Mayor Nestor Archival Sr. said the city will implement the dismissals once the official resolution is received.(TGP)