Imee justifies vehicle procurement

Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos has justified the provincial government’s purchase of trucks and buses worth P66.5 million using tobacco funds.

In a television interview, Marcos said tobacco farmers are using the vehicles even though they were issued to barangay captains.

However, she admitted that the procurement is not covered by Republic Act 7171, the law governing the use of the share of local government units from tobacco taxes. “We just construed the law liberally (to include vehicles),” Marcos said.

Marcos had authorized three cash advances amounting to P16.6 million for 40 units of multi-cabs, P15.3 million for five second-hand buses and P32.2 million for 60 mini-trucks.

In her testimony before the House committee on good government and public accountability on Tuesday, Marcos said she remembered the disbursements and purchases, but not their details.

Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel, committee chairman, said the law does not allow cash advances for the procurement of the vehicles, adding that there was no public bidding.

Marcos insisted the disbursements and procurement were aboveboard.

“While the provincial officials dubbed as the six amnesiacs had suddenly regained their memory in the course of Tuesday’s hearing, it was the turn of Gov. Marcos to be surprisingly afflicted with amnesia,” Pimentel said.

Mindoro Oriental Rep. Rey Umali said Marcos’ claim that she could not remember the details of the transactions “makes her the amnesia queen in this narrative on the irregular use of tobacco funds and procurement of vehicles.”

Pampanga Rep. Juan Pablo Bondoc asked Marcos why she signed a P32.5-million check for the payment of 70 Foton mini-trucks on Sept. 12, 2012 or a day before the closing date and opening of bids. He said this was also the case with the P18.6-million check for 40 multi-cabs.

“That time, I did not notice anything like that. With the voluminous transactions... and documents I sign, I could no longer remember these details. Besides, I relied completely on staff work, on the recommendations of the (bids and awards committee),” Marcos told the committee.

Bondoc said cash advances, especially those amounting to millions, is against the Government Procurement Law and Commission on Audit (COA) rules. He said small amount of cash advances are allowed only in the payment of wages, allowances and similar emoluments.

Bondoc said the law and COA rules prohibit the use of cash for procurement to prevent corruption like kickbacks and commissions.

Mindoro Oriental Rep. Doy Leachon told Marcos she was ultimately responsible for the alleged irregularities since she signed the purchase requests, checks and other documents. At the very least, he said the governor could be guilty of negligence.