Southern Leyte governor faces dismissal over second-hand vehicles purchase

SOUTHERN LEYTE Governor Damian G. Mercado has been ordered dismissed from his post by the Office of the Ombudsman after he was found guilty of grave misconduct for mishandling the procurement of second-hand vehicles in 2007 when he was mayor of Maasin City. In a statement issued yesterday, the Ombudsman said records of the investigation showed that in 2007, Mr. Mercado, then mayor of Maasin, the capital of Southern Leyte, approved the purchase of three reconditioned vehicles that were 11 to 13 years old, one of which was originally his, with a total worth of P2.3 million. The dismissal order carries the accessory penalties of perpetual disqualification from holding public office, forfeiture of retirement benefits, cancellation of eligibility and bar from taking the civil service examinations. Five other local executives are also set to face trial before the Sandiganbayan for violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act No. 3019). Charged alongside Mr. Mercado are Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) Chairman Crispin Arong, Jr., BAC Vice-Chairperson Feorillo Demeterio, Jr.; BAC members Anecito Narit, Benjase Lumen, and Consuelo Ladrera; and supplier Baltazar Avila, Sr. of Kojac Auto Repair Shop and Auto Supply. The BAC officials were also ordered dismissed from service. In its Joint Resolution, the Ombudsman said that respondents “exhibited manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence in awarding the procurement contracts to Kojac without regard to pertinent law and rules.” Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales said that “as head of the procuring entity, [Mr. Mercado] has a duty to ensure that all the procurements of the city government are in compliance with the law and other applicable rules.”