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Thursday, August 25, 2005
Council refers chemical purchase to ombud
The Cebu City Council has referred to the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas allegations raised against the council on the purchase of anti-dengue chemicals.
The council approved yesterday a resolution asking the anti-graft office to investigate the procurement of P1.5 million worth of lambda cyhalothrin and to review the bidding documents submitted by the participating bidders.
Instead of forming a fact-finding committee in the council or referring the matter to the City Attorney’s Office, the council opted for the anti-graft office to ensure impartiality in the inquiry.
Councilor Edgardo Labella proposed to have Vice Mayor Michael Rama pick out three councilors who would look into the matter. Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera supported the proposal.
Accused
But other councilors raised their apprehensions, saying the same body accused of making commissions out of the procurement should not be the one to conduct the inquiry.
“We are already being accused here. If the inquiry will be done by councilors from this body, it’s better for the Ombudsman to handle it because this body is already being accused,” said Councilor Rodrigo Abellanosa.
Councilor Hilario Davide III shared the same view, saying the matter is better left with the Ombudsman, but only for an inquiry, in order to dispel any doubt on the council.
The resolution was passed yesterday in response to radio dyAB news anchor Leo Lastimosa’s allegations that the Council earned commissions from the purchase of anti-dengue chemicals.
Lastimosa was invited to appear in two special sessions last week and in yesterday’s session, but he did not show up saying they already referred the matter to their legal department.
Labella and Pesquera is opposed to the Ombudsman-led inquiry, since all councilors and members of the BAC will be asked to submit affidavits and appear before the Ombudsman, and they would already appear as being accused of irregularities.
“Although there are accusations, it is not synonymous to guilt. It is just an accusation and it remains to be proven. So for now, it’s better that it is done among ourselves,” said Labella.
He proposed the inquiry to find out why lambda chemicals were purchased instead of Aqua Resigen, which was specified in the invitation to bid.
But a source privy to the bidding said lambda was purchased instead of Aqua Resigen, since the latter is a product brand distributed by a specific supplier.
“If we insisted on Aqua Resigen, we would already by showing preference for a particular supplier, that’s why we opted for lambda because that is generic,” the source said. (LCR )
(August 25, 2005 issue)
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