Witness: Babauta tampered with sampling results

Former Commonwealth Utilities Corp. laboratory manager Pedro Q. Babauta tampered with water sampling results to hide the true microbiological content of the utility firm’s drinking water from the Division of Environmental Quality, according to a witness.

Former CUC laboratory technician Mariano Iglecias took the witness stand at the U.S. District Court yesterday morning during the second day of Babauta’s trial on charges of conspiracy to defraud the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and four counts of false documents.

During questioning by federal prosecutor Timothy Moran, Iglecias said he had worked with the CUC’s laboratory for about nine years from 1994 to 2003 under Babauta’s supervision.

Collecting water samples from several sampling sites formed part of his job, Iglecias said. Before sampling, he said Babauta would flush some sites with alcohol to make sure that no bacteria would be detected from some samples.

As part of his job, Iglecias said he would also prepare sample reports, which Babauta reviewed. Babauta would make changes on “graphic points,” and would say that he would take care of the matter, Iglecias said.

Iglecias said Babauta made changes to draft reports. He said his boss would tell him that his microsheet containing raw data on water samples should be the same as the one required by the DEQ. He said he resented what Babauta was doing, such that there were times when he walked away.

“That is my work. I’m proud of what I do. I don’t go out under the sun for hours only to be told to change my samples,” Iglecias said. Babauta allegedly told him that changes were necessary because CUC would get citations from DEQ for having water with coliform contamination that exceeded allowable levels.

Babauta, who was seen watching the witness closely as the latter provided testimony, is the husband of incumbent CUC executive director Lorraine Babauta. He is facing criminal charges for allegedly tampering with drinking water sampling results to conceal the microbiological content in the firm’s water supply.

The laboratory manager retired from government sometime in 2003 after the DEQ—the EPA’s local arm—slapped the CUC with citations over various violations of drinking water regulations, including the alleged tampering of water sampling results.

An indictment filed against Babauta in federal court last year alleged that the former laboratory manager conspired with other persons to conceal the true microbiological content of CUC’s public water system on different occasions over a four-year period.

Iglecias took the witness stand yesterday morning after DEQ laboratory manager Clarissa Tanaka Bearden completed her testimony.

Meanwhile, Chief Judge Alex R. Munson reportedly ordered a relative of Babauta to keep his distance from the panel of jurors after he was observed giving them intimidating stares. The judge reportedly ordered the U.S. Marshal to maintain its presence inside the courtroom during the duration of the trial.