Silay officials: We were vindicated

“WE FELT vindicated because after all we did the right procedure on the computerization project of the City Government,” Ignacio Salmingo, a city administrator, said after they were cleared of charges.

The Court of Appeals (CA) 18th division in Cebu City has set aside a decision of the office of the Ombudsman ordering the suspension of 17 officials of Silay City for eight months and one day.

The charges were filed by Jose Lindy Chan and Jojo Sumiller regarding the anomalous P18-million Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Project in 2007 in the city.

There are no cogent grounds sufficient to disturb, reverse, or modify the decision of the CA on June 25, Executive Justice Pampio Abarintos said.

The motion for reconsideration dated July 20, 2012, and motion for partial reconsideration dated August 2, 2012 filed by Chan, Sumiller and the Office of the Ombudsman are denied for lack of merit, the resolution of Abarintos stated.

The 17 officials who were cleared of the charges were Ignacio Salmingo, Elsie Jimenea, Emmanuel Arsenal, Kara Aimee Quevenco; Pepito Hechanova Jr., Alma de la Cruz, Ricardo Ledesma Jr., Sonia Cordero, Rene Roy Pahilanga, Giovanni Guzon, Jesus Oppus, Arnie Trajera, Jose Genaro Estrañero, Macarse Tionko, Armin Paredes, Alore Golez and Vilma Dooma, all of the Silay City government.

In its June 25 decision, the CA also reversed the August 3, 2010 decision of the Ombudsman stating that the 17 officials had committed conduct prejudicial to public service.

But the CA said based on the evidence presented, the petitioners were able to sufficiently prove that the computerization system procured from Systems and Plan Integrator and Development Corp. were of proprietary nature and that direct contracting as an alternative mode of procurement was justified. (Teresa D. Ellera)