Return P92.5 million, ex-Pampanga mayor told

MABALACAT CITY, Philippines — A former mayor of Pampanga and a private contractor have been asked to return  P92.5 million spent for alleged non-existent projects.

In a notice of disallowance, the Commission on Audit (COA) said the payments made by the Mabalacat municipal government to A.L. Construction for slope protection works along Sapang Balen and Quitangil creeks in 2016, when Marino Morales was mayor, violated procurement rules.

The COA said the projects were duplications of what the third engineering district of the Department of Public Works and Highways were doing at the time.

The audit agency also cited the ineligibility of the lone bidder who won the contract for not complying with the requirements, such as the complete set of approved plans, technical specifications, bill of quantities and the bids and awards resolution recommending the award of the project.

It also cited irregularities in the bidding  process.

The COA gave the respondents, including former bids and awards committee chairman Bernardo delos Reyes and former city engineer and BAC vice chairman Ramil Canlapan, six months to appeal its findings or settle the disallowance.