Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Oscar Inocentes has ordered the filing of criminal and administrative cases against eight Construction Equipment Management Office (CEMO) personnel allegedly caught selling scrap metal from an old pedestrian overpass they dismantled at the Tandang Sora-Commonwealth Avenue intersection in Quezon City.

“In no way we will let this indiscretion go unpunished. Let this be a lesson to all MMDA employees. Any wrongdoing will be meted out with severe penalties,” said Inocentes, a former trial court judge.

Security Intelligence and Investiagation Division (SIID) head Supt. Elie Pintang identified the suspects as Muralla Nabua Jr., 34, Mason II; Michael Zuniga, 29, Carpenter II; Alvin Espiritu, 37, Carpenter II; Henry Montano, 49, Laborer II; Reynaldo Reonico, 45, Laborer II; Rodel Martinez, 30, Mason II; Manuel Dela Cruz, 27, Mason II; Ranilo Olinganga, 42, Painter II.

A group of MMDA-Sidewalk Clearing Operations Group (SCOG) operatives spotted the suspects and their service vehicle in front of a junkshop at around 4:30 p.m. last Wednesday, according to Pintang.

“The SCOG personnel became suspicious so they pulled over and decided to check. But these CEMO workers immediately scampered away,” Pintang said, adding that the SCOG operatives gave chase and caught the eight suspects.

Three other CEMO personnel were able to escape. They were identified as Ricky Adanza, Bryan Podador, and Ronelio Bondoc.

Myrna Lizardo, the junkshop attendant, confirmed that the MMDA men had been regularly selling scrap materials.

She said they paid over P1,000 to the group for several pieces of steel bars they brought that afternoon.

Informed of the MMDA employees’ arrests, Inocentes said that the CEMO personnel should have brought the scrap materials to the agency’s depository area in Pasig City for proper accounting and disposal.

“Even if these materials are considered waste, they are still government properties,” Inocentes said.

Inocentes tasked SIID to file charges of qualified theft against the suspects before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Saturday. The Legal Service Department, meanwhile, will start dismissal proceedings against the erring employees.