Palace mulls filing raps vs execs involved in anomalous NPO deal

MALACAÑANG is eyeing to file criminal and administrative cases against erring National Printing Office (NPO) officials involved in the alleged questionable P66 million print orders for the Social Security System ( SSS) .

In a statement, lawyer Enrique Tandan III, Communications Undersecretary for Legal Affairs, said the Palace found “sufficient basis” to believe that criminal and administrative offenses were committed by NPO officials.

Pursuant to the directive of Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, Tandan conducted an investigation on the alleged bribery and illegal subcontracting on printing the SSS forms.

“The investigation uncovered several irregularities and violations of, among other, the Procurement Reform Act (Republic Act 9184) and the AntiCorrupt Practices Act (RA 3019),” Tandan sai d.

Following the reported anomalous transaction, NPO Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) chairperson Sherwin Prose Castaneda, along with 10 other BAC members, were prompted to quit their respective posts.

Tandan said the investigation will resume to determine the possibility of filing administrative charges against NPO officials and employees in the alleged irregularities.

Tandan added that after consultations with Andanar, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go, he had decided to refer the alleged criminal and administrative offenses to the proper investigate offices for further investigation and possible filing of criminal complaints. (Ruth Abbey Gita/ Sunnex)