Ex-Negros treasurer gets 10 years for P130 K deal

MANILA, Philippines - A former treasurer of Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental has been sentenced to six to 10 years in prison over the anomalous procurement of a cattle weighing scale in 1990.

Ofelia Oliva was found guilty beyond reasonable doubt by a Sandiganbayan special division for the purchase of the scale worth P130,000 without public bidding.

The equipment was found to be overpriced and of poor quality.

In a ruling issued on Nov. 24, Associate Justice Samuel Martires said Oliva disregarded the procurement procedure and showed partiality toward Joe Bart Enterprises, the supplier of the scale.

The ruling said Oliva’s acts caused injury to the city government.

Oliva claimed no one responded to a city government’s invitation to bid, so she canvassed the price of the item in five stores in Manila.

Although the law allows canvassing and direct negotiated purchase once bidding fails, the court said Oliva did not abide by the specifications of the item as stated in the city’s purchase order and the allocated budget, which was P85,000.

The court said Oliva violated Joint Department Order 1-75 when she did the canvassing in Manila instead in Dumaguete City.

It said Oliva and her subordinates should have determined the lowest price offered for the equipment before they decided to purchase it.