5 Bohol officials sinuspinde sa graft

Limang opisyal ng bayan ng Panglao sa Bohol ang pinatawan ng 90-araw na preventive suspension ng Office of the Ombudsman dahil sa umano'y maanomalyang pagbili ng isang kotse na aabot sa P1.46 milyon noong 2008.

Kabilang sa sinuspinde sina Panglao Municipal Budget Officer Catalino Sumaylo, Municipal Engineer Rogelio Bonao, Municipal Treasurer Rena Guivencan, Administrative Assistant Dionisia Estopito, at Administrative Aide Rene Lustre.

“Any incumbent public officer arraigned under a valid information shall be suspended from office to prevent the hampering of the prosecution by intimidating or influencing witnesses, tampering with documentary evidence, or committing further acts of malfeasance while in office. It emphasized that the suspension is not a penalty,” saad sa desisyon ng Ombudsman.

Ayon sa anti-graft agency, bukod sa limang opisyal, nahaharap din sa kasong paglabag sa Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act 3019) si dating Panglao Mayor Benedicto Alcala.

“The Ombudsman found that as members of the Bids and Awards Committee, Alcala, et. al. procured a Kia Sorento in January 2008 worth P1.46 million thru Direct Contracting without just and lawful basis. The procurement of the vehicle from its Development Fund was not considered as an allowable expense under the Department of the Interior and Local Government and Department of Budget and Management Joint Circular No. 01 Series of 2005,” bahagi pa ng desisyon ng Ombudsman.