Ombudsman clears former Leyte solon of graft

ORMOC CITY, Leyte, Jan. 20 (PNA) – The Office of the Ombudsman threw to the wastebasket the charges filed against former Leyte 4th dist. Rep. Eufrocino M. Codilla Sr. and his daughter-in-law Engr. Violeta Trangia-Codilla. 

The decision was dated June 22, 2015 but was received by the respondents only on Jan. 19. The issue stemmed from the case for graft and corrupt practices filed against the respondents by Paulito Cotiangco. 

The former solon was accused of violating RA 6713 on prohibited financial/material interest and conflict of interest.

According to the charge sheet, Yakal Construction, owned by Trangia-Codilla, was awarded infrastructure projects totaling Php888.1 million while Codilla Sr. was congressman from February 2004 to July 2008. 

“The indirect interest of respondent Codila Sr. tends to unduly influence the Bids and Awards Committee in favor of respondent Violeta,” Cotiangco alleged in his complaint.

Codilla Sr. denied this, saying that as a congressman, he was not responsible for the approval of projects as he had no control, power or influence over projects initiated and funded by the city, provincial, regional and national governments. 

He added that even when his last term expired in 2010, Yakal Construction remained a contractor for government projects.

For her part, Trangia-Codilla maintained that there was no conflict of interest as her father-in-law had no direct or indirect interest – whether financial or material – in Yakal Construction. 

As a single proprietorship, Yakal Construction is registered in her name and as such, her father-in-law had no proprietary interest and participation in the business.

The six-page decision, penned by graft investigator and prosecution officer Marie Fe Frances Seville-Ang noted the absence in the complaint of a clear and precise narration on how Codilla Sr. may have participated or influenced in the awarding of the projects to the prejudice of other bidders.

“In all of the projects, there is no allegation that…Codilla Sr.’s office is the head of the procuring entity or directly or indirectly approves the granting of the projects,” a portion of the decision reads. “There is no mention of any names of persons who have been influenced or pressured by them.”

Trangia-Codilla welcomes the case’s dismissal for vindicating them after they were subjected to trial by publicity especially so that her husband Edward is the incumbent mayor of Ormoc. She maintains that she won government contracts fair and square without the need for influence-peddling. (PNA)
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