The Office of the Ombudsman has filed two graft cases against former Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista before the Saniganbayan involving two projects worth PHP 57 million with the government in 2019.
Aside from Bautista, former Quezon City administrator Aldrin Cuña was also accused of violating Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act based on the cases approved by Ombudsman Samuel Martires on Feb. 3, 2023.
According to the Ombudsman, Bautista and Cuña allegedly released public funds amounting to PHP25.3 million to Cygnet Energy and Power Asia for solar power system and waterproofing works for the Quezon City Civic Center, despite the firm's failure to secure a Net Metering System from Meralco.
The second case alleged both former officials of facilitating and approving the release of PHP 32.1 million to Geodata Solutions Inc. for procurement of a permitting and tracking system.
The Ombudsman noted that Bautista and Cuña purportedly entered into the contract with the IT firm despite lacking a specific appropriation ordinance enacted by the Sangguniang Panlunsod.
Cuña issued a certificate of acceptance, it added.
A bail bond of PHP 90,000 each was recommended.
Bautista has yet to comment on the matter.
