Ombudsman to charge 12 DA executives

DAVAO CITY – The Office of the Ombudsman has found probable cause to charge members of the bids and awards committee of the Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Field Unit XI for the allegedly anomalous purchase of disinfectants in 2012.

The regional field unit is based in Davao City.

To be charged with graft are former DA executives Constancio Maghanoy Jr. (Regional Executive Director); Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) officials Isagani Basco (chairman), Alma Mahinay (vicechairperson), Alfredo Cayabyab, Rafael Mercado, Larry Pineda, Herna Palma, Rosalinda Mediano, Melani Provido, Isabelita Buduan, Lelisa Lascuña and Marie Ann Constantino, the Office of the Ombudsman said.

The Ombudsman said there were “procurement irregularities” in the agency’s acquisition of 38 drums of disinfectant in 2012.

Documents showed that undue preference was given to supplier FKA Agri-Chemical Corporation (FKA), which was awarded the project even if it was not the lowest bidder.

Investigators uncovered that FKA was favored due to some “freebie,” consisting of additional protective gears given at no extra price to the government.

According to the Resolution, “the inclusion of freebies should be discouraged, if not prohibited during biddings as this may result to another form of graft and corruption in awarding bids as this serves as an enticement or added flavor to the BAC to favor another bidder.”

Sanitation Concepts, Inc. (SCI), the lowest bidder with an offer of R2,647,308.00, did not provide any additional “freebies” in its bid offer.