Cebu barangay execs seek graft suit’s dismissal

CEBU CITY — Barangay officials rapped for the alleged overpricing of computers have asked the Office of the Ombudsman to dismiss the graft complaint against them, arguing that the purchase did not actually push through.

In their counter-affidavit, Barangay Carreta chairman Marciano Ando and councilmen Vinah Briones, Leonor Hortelano, Ignacio Ancajas, Rodolfo Pacana, Evangeline Natividad, Regina Bontia and Rona Mae Onde said the P500,000 intended for the purchase of the five computers is still intact in the barangay’s current account with the Land Bank of the Philippines.

They said that they cancelled the disbursement voucher and returned the computers when councilman Antonio Conahap complained about the alleged overpricing of the computers.

The disbursement voucher was reportedly withdrawn pending clarification of the overpricing issue.

The controversy started when a certain Mariano Nadera filed the complaint against the Carreta officials with the Ombudsman for allegedly conspiring with each other in the purchase of allegedly overpriced computers without any public bidding.

The acquisition of the computers was reportedly done by a committee on bids and awards for each barangay that availed itself of the project which Rep. Raul del Mar had initiated.

The Carreta officials were accused of facilitating the overpricing of the computers with each unit costing P100,000 when it reportedly cost only P39,000.

The Ombudsman earlier cleared Del Mar of the charges due to insufficient evidence that he had a hand in awarding the supply contract.

The Carreta officials also belied Nadera’s allegation that there was no bidding, saying there was an attendance sheet duly signed by those who attended the bidding at the barangay hall on Oct. 10 last year.

The public bidding was reportedly conducted pursuant to a letter from Budget Secretary Emilia Boncodin.

The barangay officials said that of the three parties who submitted sealed bids, it was Global Trade Development Corp. who offered the lowest bid.

On Oct. 15, 2002, the barangay issued a purchase order and Global Trade received it three days later.

On Oct. 28, the computers were delivered to the barangay and were inspected by barangay treasurer Ramon Dwight Yngente.

Subsequently, a resolution was approved allocating P499,999.50 for the payment of the five computers, and a disbursement voucher was issued on Dec. 27, 2002 and submitted to the city accountant for processing and approval.

But after learning about Conahap’s complaint, the Carreta officials said they cancelled the disbursement voucher. — Freeman News Service