CAGAYAN de Oro Water District (COWD) Interim General Manager Fermin Jarales has affirmed that the resignation of suspended General Manager Antonio Young will accelerate the Local Water Utilities Administration’s (LWUA) investigation into alleged irregularities at the utility.
“Tony Young’s resignation will fast-track (the investigation). (The) investigation is ongoing,” Jarales told Gold Star Daily.
In a document obtained by Gold Star Daily through a COWD insider, Young tendered his early retirement from the government-owned and controlled (GOCC) water facility to COWD Chairperson Nelia B. Lee on August 5. Young had attributed his decision to his health after consulting his family and family physician.
On the same day, Young also submitted his resignation as General Manager to COWD Interim Board Chairman Engr. Antonio Ramirez.
In response to concerns over legal challenges, Jarales emphasized that Young’s resignation is a de facto acknowledgment of the authority of the Interim Board overseeing the investigation.
The probe, led by LWUA, continues despite resistance from COWD’s legal team, which refuses to recognize Jarales as the complainant.
Jarales said that the Interim Board is preparing to file administrative charges against several COWD executives, including those in finance and legal departments, citing issues such as non-revenue water, stockpiled equipment, and other irregularities.
Jarales also revealed that a “lifestyle check” on Young and members of the previous board is under consideration.
Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) continues to inquire about the matter. However, COWD’s legal counsel Angeli Avenido told Gold Star Daily in a separate interview, that they delayed compliance with the subpoenas, and are still challenging Jarales’ authority to initiate the complaints.
“We will simply inform the NBI that we do not recognize their jurisdiction due to the lack of proper authorization for the complaint filed by Jarales,” she told Gold Star Daily.
LWUA Chairman Ronnie Ong, in a television interview, disclosed findings from the Commission on Audit regarding the COWD’s management.
The audit uncovered significant issues, including P5.2 billion in losses from 2018 to 2021 and persistently high levels of non-revenue water, despite allocated funds to address these problems.
Ong reported that the suspended COWD officials have been uncooperative in meetings aimed at resolving these issues.
He suggested that these irregularities, particularly under Young, are driving the officials’ efforts to obstruct LWUA’s intervention.
Ong also alleged that Young engaged in questionable activities, such as ransacking the interim board’s office. He reiterated that LWUA, as COWD’s direct regulator, is focused on resolving the utility’s problems, making the officials’ non-compliance particularly baffling.
