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Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Malversation raps filed vs Davao Sur guv, 16 others
By Ben O. Tesiorna
DAVAO CITY -- Davao del Sur Governor Benjamin P. Bautista and 16 other provincial officials are facing criminal and administrative charges for alleged anomalous transactions.
Associate Graft Investigation Officer III Stella Marie Servanez-Ingente recommended the filing of malversation of public funds or property, violation of Republic Act 3019, grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, and dishonesty against the officials.
The charges reportedly stemmed from several government transactions alleged to be anomalous and which include catering services, rice purchase, delivery of cell cards instead of rice, and purchase of computers and service vehicles.
Aside from Bautista, also facing charges are Provincial Accountant Richard Martel, Provincial Administrator Bernardo Quipit Jr., General Services Officer Allan Putong, Administrative Officer IV Luz Cometa, acting Provincial Administrator Private Secretary Carmelo Tamayo, Provincial Board Members Alberto Baliota Jr., Joefina Almazan and Edgar Gan, Supply Officer II Evelyn Parel, Legislative Staff Officer V and special assistant to the governor Agnes Renoy, PGO inspector Alfredo Reyes, Provincial Social Welfare Officer Virginia Ceniza, Canvasser Christina Leah Pabalan, PGO canvasser-designate Liberato Migue, Provincial Budget Officer Victoria Mier, and Provincial Treasurer Abel Guinares.
In a resolution issued recently, Servanez-Ingente noted deficiencies in the payment of the catering service, which was procured through an emergency purchase and not through the mandatory public bidding.
On the rice purchase, Servanez-Ingente noted problems in the disbursement vouchers and their supporting documents.
A rice supplier also allegedly revealed that instead of supplying rice worth P115,000 as indicated in the purchase orders, what was supplied were cell cards.
The signatures affixed in the purchase orders and canvass forms on the emergency purchases were forged as well.
Servanez-Ingente also said the medicines procured by the province through an emergency purchase include those that were not so necessary.
On the purchase of computers, Servanez-Ingente said the computer suppliers, Electrotel Inc. and Netcell Marketing, "are not bonafide or reputable suppliers of computers thus the subject purchase is deemed irregular."
Servanez-Ingente also stated that the procedure adopted by the officials of the Province of Davao del Sur in the purchase of service vehicles without public bidding is in violation of audit rules.
She also noted that the province resorted to direct purchase from an exclusive distributor because they specified the brand name of the motor vehicle they requested.
This action, according to Servanez-Ingente, does not conform to the procurement provisions of the Commission on Audit, which states that "the description and specification of the supplies or property called for in the requisition shall include only the technical specifications which will fill and satisfy the needs of the requisitioner."
"Had the province used technical specifications like motor vehicle -- pickup 4x4 or motor vehicle, van type and other descriptions, they could have found suitable substitutes of the same quality through the conduct of an open competitive public bidding. In that way the Province is certain that it has obtained the best offer advantageous to the government," she said.
Sun.Star tried getting the reaction of Bautista but failed. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
(March 22, 2006 issue)
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