Ombuds junks raps vs. MCIAA officials over x-ray machines

CEBU, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman has dismissed the complaints for misconduct and dishonesty filed against officials of the Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) for lack of evidence.

Graft investigator Alfred Yann Oguis found no evidence in the complaint filed by Rogelio Yaun, former manager of the MCIAA administrative department, against his former colleagues finance officer Veronica Ordoñez, operations manager Romeo Bersonda, manager of the accounting division Maria Venus Casas and auditor Thelma Mañacap.

Oguis said Yaun failed to support his allegations that his former colleagues committed acts of dishonesty over the alleged irregular payment of the transportation of two x-ray machines from Singapore to Cebu.

Yaun, in his complaint, alleged that the respondents conspired with each other and committed serious dishonesty for releasing P156,152.65 as payment for the air transport of two scanning machines.

“As a result of the illegal payments made, the MCIAA suffered a loss of a total of P156,152.65 of taxpayer’s money,” Yaun said.

Yaun said the contract that MCIAA entered into with the private x-ray supplier reportedly stipulated that the machines would be delivered “at no cost” to the airport. This is reportedly contrary to what eventually happened because the airport paid the machine supplier P156,152.65 as payment for air transport expenses.

In their counter-affidavits, the respondents denied the allegations.

Ordoñez said the payment of freight charges was authorized under the contract between MCIAA and Asia Borders.

He added “the complaints stand without any factual and legal basis and therefore should be dismissed.”

Bersonda said the disbursement vouchers and the air transportation expenses were lawful and necessary.

Mañacap said she did not have the discretion in the preparation of disbursement vouchers and added government auditors did not find any irregularity on the release of public funds.

Casas also denied the allegations claiming she was not the signatory to the request and that she did not issue the voucher.

In her decision, Oguis ruled the word “cost” stipulated in the contract refers to the “use” of the x-ray machines.

“It is perfectly within reason to suppose that when the contract states supplier agrees to provide MCIAA two screening machines during the period of the upgrading at no cost to MCIAA, it was referring to the cost associated with rental of these units and not refer to the delivery of these units to MCIAA for its use,” he ruled. — (FREEMAN)