Ombud to investigate DepEd officials for P17M purchase

CEBU, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas will be conducting a preliminary investigation against officials of the Department of Education (DepEd) for the  alleged irregularities in the purchase of public schools equipment worth P17.7 million in 2007.

In a fact-finding investigation, graft investigation officer II Alejandro Borden found sufficient evidence that DepEd Schools Division Superintendent Serena Uy, DepEd Division of Cebu Accountant II Gervasia Sanchez and OIC Assistant Schools Division Superintendent Judiana Corriente committed four counts of falsification of public or official documents and grave misconduct and dishonesty.

Borden also ruled that Teonilo Ibarra, Felix Mejas Jr., Tiburcio Paras and Romualdo Abella, members of the Division Inspectorate Team, committed grave misconduct and gross neglect of duty while the members of the Bids and Awards Committee namely, Corriento, Abella, Norberto Torbeso, Daria Sarsalejo and Willie Adonay Jr. committed grave misconduct.

Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol approved Borden’s recommendation.

Named respondents will be given a chance to answer the allegation against them during the preliminary investigation.

The case stemmed from a complaint filed by JEC Lumber and Ramagal. The two suppliers alleged that they were the first and second lowest bidders but the project was awarded to Gala Industries, the third lowest bidder.

Based on a newspaper report, the teachers and parents complained that the items delivered like armchairs, teachers’ tables and desks were defectives.

In his evaluation and findings, Borden said he found out that the bidding was participated in by three bidders and the lowest bidder was the JEC Lumber Corporation with P17,228,446.60.

However, the BAC disqualified JEC and Ramagal based on a resolution dated August 19, 2012.

 â€œâ€¦due to poor and unsatisfactory performance in the previous projects undertaken with the procuring entity coupled with the submission of defective papers and false information in their eligibility documents,” BAC resolution stated.        

JEC then filed a motion for reconsideration but it was denied.

Likewise, Ramagal contest the disqualification citing under the law the motion for reconsideration of the first bidder should be resolved first before the contract will be awarded.

Based on the evaluation report, it stated that the authorized representative of the Gala was seen “in a closed-door meeting with the BAC officials before the opening of bids and Gala was made to pass the eligibility stage notwithstanding its poor performance in DepEd’s furniture project in 2006.”

With that, Borden said the members of the BAC conspired and favored Gala as the winning bidder.

And though the evidence was clear that the items delivered were defective, still respondents paid the Gala Industries.

Borden also stated that the gross inexcusable neglect of the Inspectorate Team caused the government damages amounting to more than P3.089 million, the worth of the defective equipment. – (FREEMAN)