C.L.O. cites irregular ambulance purchase: Charges eyed vs Bercede, others

CEBU, Philippines — The Mandaue City Legal Office (CLO) is recommending that the City Mayor’s Office file legal action against officials, including Vice Mayor Glenn Bercede, and former personnel of the previous administration over the purchase of two ambulances worth around P6 million that allegedly did not have the required documents.

In a press conference on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, City Legal Officer Atty. Erwin Rommel Heyrosa said they conducted an investigation after their office received a memorandum from Mayor Thadeo Jovito “Jonkie” Ouano on February 20, 2026.

The memorandum directed the CLO to investigate and determine who may be liable for the purchase of the two ambulances, which allegedly did not have the proper Official Receipt and Certificate of Registration (OR/CR).

Based on their investigation, the ambulances were purchased in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and were delivered in 2021.

Heyrosa said the ambulances were allegedly delivered without the OR/CR. Because they did not have the required documents, the vehicles could not be used by the city for around six years since their purchase.

“Nahug nga nawari-wari ang kwarta sa atong gobyerno kay since 2020. For 6 years wala gyud ni siya maggamit,” said Heyrosa.

“Kung ila pa lang na deliver on time ang ORCR naggamit na unta to nato sa syudad sa Mandaue sa pagdeliver nato sa health services,” he added.

Heyrosa said the idle vehicles are now rusty because they could not be used without the OR/CR and could not be registered.

In addition, the lawyer said their investigation suggested that the winning bidder of the vehicles was not the owner of the units.

“Maong di sila ka deliver sa OR/CR kay dili man registered owner ang winning bidder,” said Heyrosa.

“Mao na ang anomaliya diha ba nga nganong gitugtan man ang bidder nga maoy makadeliver,” he added.

However, they found that the vehicles had already been paid for by the city.

Heyrosa said the previous administration accepted the units despite the incomplete delivery, as they allegedly did not have the OR/CR.

He said it was Vice Mayor Bercede, who was serving as acting mayor at the time, who issued the check.

Aside from the City Mayor’s Office, Heyrosa said their office found the City Treasurer’s Office and the Department of General Services potentially liable for accepting the vehicles.

The city legal officer said the offices allegedly failed to conduct a thorough and diligent effort to determine whether the delivery was complete.

Heyrosa said that based on their preliminary investigation report, it would be up to Mayor Ouano to determine whether to issue formal charges against the individuals found liable.

He added that the CLO will file a civil action against the bidder for damages and demand restitution of the payment.

A mutual restitution will also be undertaken, under which the ambulances will be returned to the bidder while the bidder will return the P6 million payment to the city.

Meanwhile, appropriate action will also be pursued against the officials involved.

“All those previous officials nga nalambigit ani nga transaction, kining sa mga ambulances, atong file-an criminal action, muduso nalang ta didto sa Ombudsman for the appropriate criminal action against nila,” said Heyrosa.

Heyrosa said they will be submitting their report to Ouano and will await the mayor’s instructions.

He added that it will be the mayor’s call to determine the appropriate action based on the CLO’s recommendations.

“We have to protect the interest of the city, atong ganahan nga di ni mahitabo og balik,” said Heyrosa.

Heyrosa said they will recommend the filing of a civil case against those involved if there are sufficient findings, while the Office of the Ombudsman will determine whether criminal charges should be filed.

He said there are also other former officials whom they will investigate.

Bercede says…

For his part, Vice Mayor Bercede, when sought for comment, said the matter had not yet reached his office.

However, he explained that during his time as acting mayor, his role in signing documents was ministerial.

Bercede explained that once the papers and check reached him for his signature, he assumed that they had already gone through the proper offices.

He said that based on his experience, papers and documents would go through the CLO and, at times, the City Council, particularly when the transaction involved a budget since the council is the approving body.

“Mupirma na ko, di nako maato og basa tanan…Di na mabasa og tagsa-tagsa, ang among tan awon once naay countersign sa administrator unya ang papeles kompleto, once maabot sa opisina nga kompleto,” said Bercede.

However, he said he had no knowledge of the registration issues involving the vehicles.

“Wa koy idea gyud,” said Bercede.

Bercede said that if legal action is filed against him, he will face it and seek legal assistance from his counsel.

“Atubangon lang nako wa man koy mahimo, tubagon lang pod nako kay lisod man,” Bercede said.

Bercede said he had no involvement in the negotiations, as he was only serving as acting mayor at the time and was asked to sign documents in his capacity as the local chief executive.

He said that, for him, during his tenure as mayor, he would sign documents once all the necessary details were complete.

“Mupirma gyud kos cheque og navy bayranan, alangan og di ko mu pirma ako sad ang gukdon nganong wa ko nipirma,” said Bercede. – IHM (CEBU NEWS)