Internet deal worth P13M questioned

CEBU, Philippines – A resigned official of a state-run school in Negros Oriental wants the Ombudsman to look into the mode of procurement used in a transaction that will provide the school Internet subscription and other online services, among others.

Resigned Negros Oriental State University president Dr. Don Vicente Real has asked Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales to investigate what he believes was a questionable transaction regarding the mode of procurement for subscription of Internet and other online services through fiber optic backbone with local loop for the NORSU system Phase I and Phase II in the province.

Real told the Ombudsman that the issue at hand is that the procurement was done through direct contracting in the amount of P13,742,400 without approval from the Board of Regents of NORSU.

Moreover, Real stressed such procurement was not included in the Annual Procurement Plan for 2012 and in violation of RA 3019, known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and RA 9299 or the NORSU law.

In connection with this, Real is inquiring from the office Morales as to the status of the cases filed against him before the Ombudsman by a certain Cipriano Trajano Jr. in his official capacity as then president of NORSU.

Real said he is willing to appear and testify in favor of NORSU and the Philippine government to protect the interest of the state university.

Real resigned as president on January 23, 2015 due to health reasons.

In an interview, former president Sojor said installation of the Internet connection of the NORSU system was strictly observed during his time and that procedures were followed and approved by the Board of Regents.

He said COA would have run against him if such processes were not observed.  /JMD