BAGUIO CITY – City Mayor Benjamin Magalong has lodged a complaint against officials of the Baguio City District Engineering Office of the Department of Public Works and Highways (BCDEO-DPWH) due to alleged irregularities in the construction of a secondary school building in the city.

In his 18-page complaint he filed with City Prosecutor’s Office, Mayor Magalong cited five engineers, one accountant and a private contractor who, he said, allegedly violated Section 3 of paragraphs E, F, and G of Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Magalong appeared before City Prosecutor Conrado Catral Jr on Friday afternoon, August 5, to file the information in preparation for the filing of the case with the Office of the Ombudsman.

Named respondents were Engrs. Rene Zarate, Glenn Reyes, Cesario Rillera, Alfredo Bannagao Jr. and Tedler Depaynos Jr., who are all district engineers under DPWH-Cordillera.

Also included in the charges sheet are Accountant III Madonna Catipon and private contractor Romeo Aquino.

Magalong also alleged the respondents committed grave misconduct, grave abuse of authority, gross neglect of duty, gross dereliction of duty, conduct unbecoming of a public officer and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service Pursuant to RA 6713.

Magalong said his complaint was based on the May 8, 2018 reports of the inspectorate team of the City Buildings and Architectures Office that raised red flags on the architectural, structural, electrical and sanitary aspects of the building.

On July 1, Magalong had also filed his first case with the Ombudsman against the BCDEO, alleging the respondents had used ‘substandard and defective,’ materials in the development of a sidewalk along Bonifacio Street.

Magalong said he wants these actions to be a litmus case for a government office that filed such a complaint against another government office to show that the local government unit is serious about stopping corruption.