"Pork scam" raps vs. Puentevella await Ombudsman's final action

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Mayor Monico Puentevella's case on alleged computer scam using his 'pork barrel' funds when he was congressman has been resolved by the Ombudsman-Visayas, and was already forwarded to Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales for final action.

This was confirmed by Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol in a phone interview with Bombo Radyo Bacolod last Monday.

Pelagio said he had already forwarded to Morales his resolution on Puentevella's case in 2011 yet, but did not disclose his recommendation, saying it was confidential, and that only the Ombudsman can divulge the final findings on the case.

The case stemmed from Puentevella's release of P38 million of his PDAF, or pork barrel, from 2002 to 2005 for an IT (information technology) package for elementary and secondary schools in Bacolod, but these were allegedly found to be defective and unsuitable for school use.

Each computer package, which comes with accessories, cost P400,000, and overpriced by P14 million, according to 2007 investigation report of the Bacolod City Legal Office under the late Allan Zamora, during the administration of then Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia.

Reports that the packages were overpriced prompted Zamora to file a complaint in 2007 for graft against Puentevella, Dr. Victoriano Tirol, then regional director of the Department of Education in Western Visayas and Merryland Publishing Corp., the computer package supplier based in Mandaluyong City owned by Jessy Garcia.

Garcia, the supplier, denied the overprice as he explained that the purchase did not only include the costs of computers and accessories but also included training, consultation and handling fees, delivery and intellectual property rights expenses, and taxes, among others,

Puentevella also said the Ombudsman complaint was politically motivated, since it was filed by Leonardia's former lawyer. He said that the schools that received the computer packages had issued certifications that the items were in good condition. But in a report of ABS-CBN Bacolod, at least two schools complained that the computers malfunctioned and were returned for repair.

Sarah Esguerra, executive assistant of Puentevella, said all questions about the alleged 'computer anomaly' had been addressed, explaining that the supplier had submitted his affidavit to the Ombudsman, clarifying the issue. Puentevella had nothing to do with the bidding or with the purchase of the alleged overpriced computer packages as his only participation was to facilitate the release of funds for the project, she said.

Esguerra said the complainants should ask the DepEd because it was the agency that consummated the transaction on the purchase of the computer packages. Besides, Puentevella's only concern was to facilitate the program on computer literacy for students in public schools, she added.

The complaint against Puentevella was filed following a letter sent by broadcaster Donard Nojas to the Bacolod City Sanggunian on February 7, 2007, calling the council's attention to the anomalous purchase of computers from Puentevella's PDAF. The letter prompted then City Legal Officer Allan Zamora to create a committee to look into the allegations.

Meanwhile, Pelagio said his office is investigating at least 14 cases of suspected "pork" abuse involving congressmen in the Visayas. He said the cases involved four congressmen from Cebu, and the others are from Negros Occidental, Iloilo, Leyte, and Samar.

Apostol said he is making these cases a top priority, and his office has partnered with the media to help gather evidences to resolve these cases. Only by filing cases against guilty officials can we succeed in our fight against corruption, he added. — (FREEMAN)