Ombuds: Misuari faces graft raps
OMBUDSMAN Conchita Carpio Morales has ordered the filing of graft and malversation charges against former Regional Governor Nur Misuari of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) for the alleged anomalous procurement of educational materials worth P137.5 million undertaken in 2000 to 2001.
Misuari is a fugitive for allegedly masterminding the Zamboanga City siege in 2013.
According to Morales, Misuari will face three counts of malversation of public funds through falsification and three counts of violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act No. 3019) before the Sandiganbayan.
Citing the findings of
Citing the findings of the Commission on Audit, she said it was found that the payment to five suppliers of textbooks and educational materials totaling P137,511,108.14 were irregular and made without public bidding
the Commission on Audit (COA), she said it was found that the payment to five suppliers of textbooks and educational materials totaling P137,511,108.14 were irregular and made without public bidding.
The investigation showed that Misuari approved the payment of the following educational materials:
White Orchids Printing and Publishing House – Various educational materials valued at P37,959,204; CPR Publishing House of Caloocan City — 170 sets of multimedia information technology package, P46,261,250; Esteem Enterprises of Quezon City — 6,000 copies of Demokrasyang Pambarangay, 22,000 copies of Malakas ang Batang Pilipino; 5,000 copies of Fight Drug Dependency, 8,500 copies of multicolor coated map of the Philippines, P12,030,000; Dunong Publishing of Parañaque City — 6,857 sets of Easy Learn Day Care Chart with Teacher’s Guide book, 25,238 copies of Easy Learn Day Care Workbook, P21,999,848; and MBJ Learning Tools of Caloocan City — 124 sets of information technology package for elementary and high school students, P19,260,806.14.
“Flagrant red flags were noted in the procurement such as lack of public bidding; undated and unnumbered procurement documents; absence of contracts, inventory and distribution lists; undue haste in the purchase of goods showing the rigged bidding; and non-compliance with eligibility requirements by the suppliers,” Ombudsman said.
“The Office finds probable cause that Misuari [and respondents] conspired with one another while discharging their official functions, [acting] with manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence when they conspired to rig the procurement,” she added.
Also included as coaccused are former DepEd ARMM executives Director Leovigilda Cinches, Supply Officer Sittie Aisa Usman, Accountant Alladin Usi, Chief Accountant Pangalian Maniri, Education Program Specialist Bai Sherilyn Mustapha, COA Auditor Nader Macagaan.
The Ombudsman also ordered the filing of charges against suppliers Lolita Sambeli of White Orchids, Cristeta Ramirez of CPR Publishing, Mario Barria of Esteem Enterprises and Ma. Lourdes Mendoza of Dunong Publishing. Sunnex)