Echiverri faces criminal raps before Sandiganbayan

Caloocan City Mayor Enrico Echiverri is facing criminal charges before the Sandiganbayan for allegedly suspending and illegally arresting three parking attendants in the city. In a complaint filed before the Ombudsman, the parking attendants of Jadewell Parking Systems Corp. claimed that on July 22, 2004, they were “unjustifiably suspended" by Echiverri. The Jadewell employees were even brought to Echiverri’s office, the Ombudsman said. “Photographs of [them] were taken and subsequently published in a newspaper to show that they had been arrested," the Ombudsman added. Echiverri’s camp said the mayor cannot comment until he receives a copy of the complaints. In a statement issued Saturday, Acting Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro said his office “found probable cause for the unlawful arrest by Echieverri." He thus ordered the Sandiganbayan to file an information against the mayor. — JE, GMA News