6 DepEd officials suspended over noodle scam

MANILA, Philippines -  Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez yesterday issued a six-month preventive suspension order against six Education officials accused of involvement in the anomalous purchase of fortified noodles for public school students in 2007 and 2008.

Placed under suspension without pay are: Undersecretary and then Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) chairman Teodosio Sangil Jr.; then BAC vice-chairperson Demetria Manuel; then BAC-members Nanette Mamoransing, Macur Marohombsar and Artemio Capellan Jr.; and then officer-in-charge Ramon Bacani.

They are facing administrative charges of dishonesty, grave misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, gross neglect of duty, and violation of office rules and regulations.

They are also placed under investigation for criminal offenses including graft and violating provisions of the Government Procurement Reform Act as well as the Consumers Act of the Philippines.

In the complaint filed by the Office of the Ombudsman’s Field Investigation Office (FIO), the Department of Education (DepEd) officials are accused of irregularities in the procurement of “Fortified Instant Noodles with Fresh Eggs” for the agency’s “Food for School Program.”

Records show that in 2007, the respondents bought the items at the total cost of P283,626,515.66. The Annual Procurement Plan (APP), however, has programmed expenditures for two separate items: noodles and eggs.

In 2008, the respondents again procured the same item for the amount of P57,141,864 and supposedly did not conduct public bidding.  

Investigators also questioned the awarding of the contract to Jeverps Manufacturing Corp., which license to operate was suspended by the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) for failure to conform with the test for nutritional requirements of its products and observe sanitation regulations in its factory.

Graft investigators said no consultations were made with the BFAD, the Department of Health (DOH) or other appropriate government agencies on the safety and health standards for the production of noodles and fresh eggs.

“The initial pieces of evidence submitted by the complainant preliminarily established some irregularities in the conduct of the respondents which, if duly proven, would constitute grave misconduct and dishonesty, and which sufficiently warranted their suspension pending the administrative adjudication of this case,” Gutierrez said in her seven-page order.

She directed the DepEd secretary to immediately implement the preventive suspension order and to submit a compliance report within five days from receipt.