Discrepancy of documents Salimbangon blames local execs

CEBU, Philippines -  Cebu Fourth District Representative Benhur Salimbangon admitted there may be discrepancies in the procurement documents of multicabs given to Santa Fe town using his Priority Development Assistance Fund in 2010.

Salimbangon, however, said he had nothing to do about it saying, the amount of P1,150,000 was downloaded directly to the municipal government under the administration of then mayor Jennifer Illustrisimo.

Illustrisimo lost to Salimbangon’s ally, Mayor Jose Esgana in 2013 elections.

Salimbangon explained that some of the recipients were islet barangays which could be the reason why some dates in the supporting documents were not in order.

He added that he has no control anymore in the procurement procedures as it was done by the municipality and the barangays.

The municipality reportedly procured 10 multicabs and registered them with the Land Transportation Office months before the bidding was conducted.

 According to the documents forwarded to The Freeman, the original sales invoice dated January 30, 2009 was issued to Salimbangon but was changed under the names of the recipient barangays.

Salimbangon said the invoice was perhaps mistakenly written with his name since the fund came from him.

 Each invoice issued by Porta Coeli Industrial Co., Inc. (PCIC) shows the total amount of P92,500 as cost of each unit of the multicab. The multicabs were also registered on May 22, 2009 in LTO Lapu-Lapu Extension Office.

However, the municipality’s Bids and Awards Committee chaired by Jeffrey Zamora published the invitation to bid on October 1, 2009 or five months after the multicabs were registered.

 No prospective bidders reportedly submitted a letter of intent and application for eligibility prompting BAC to declare the October 27, 2009 and February 10, 2010 biddings a failure and were duly approved by Illustrisimo.

 But a purchase request was dated January 5, 2009 after the first bidding was declared a failure.

 A purchase order dated March 23, 2010 in the mode of negotiated procurement was signed by Illustrisimo and received by PCIC on March 25, 2010.

 A delivery receipt dated April 6, 2010 shows that PCIC delivered 10 units of multicabs to the municipality of Santa Fe, Cebu and were received by Rolando Villacarlos.

 But the date of Inspection and Acceptance Report signed by Municipal Treasurer Roy Salubre was on March 26, 2010.

 The PCIC on April 13, 2010 issued the Statement of Account to the municipality for the payment of the 10 units of multicabs in the total amount of P1,250,000.

A disbursement voucher was signed by Salubre and Illustrisimo on July 9, 2010 and the payment was received by PCIC on September 8, 2010.

 On September 3, 2010, the Commission on Audit issued an inspection report stating that ocular inspection was conducted by a team relative to the delivery and found the multicabs to be delivered to the different barangys in accordance with the technical specifications indicated in the approved purchase order.

 COA noted that the inspection report was delayed due to the late submission of the agency’s Certificate of Acceptance. (FREEMAN)