Ex-gov’t comms execs get 6–8 years for printer purchase

The Sandiganbayan Seventh Division has convicted six former Arroyo administration communications officials over the questionable lease purchase of a printer in 2005.

A 40-page decision promulgated on May 25 found former Bureau of Communications Services (BCS) director Eduardo Varona, Bids and Awards Committee chairperson Darius Josue, BAC vice chairperson Eden Villarosa, Special Productions Division chief Leonardo Alcantara Jr., and BAC members Angelito Enriquez and Lino Aala "guilty beyond reasonable doubt" of violating Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

The Sandiganbayan sentenced each accused to a minimum jail term of six years and one month to a maximum of eight years. The court also meted the accessory penalties of perpetual disqualification from holding public office and forfeiture of retirement benefits against all of them.

Ombudsman prosecutors accused Varona and the others of giving undue advantage to Ernest Printing Corporation when they tapped the firm for the lease purchase of one unit of Heidelberg single color offset press without public bidding and the Approved Budget for the Contract.

The prosecution also said Ernest Printing had already received a total payment of P850,000, instead of the P73,506.29 monthly amortization, upon signing the contract.

The accused stressed the urgent nature of the purchase, saying they could not find a replacement for their 32-year-old Komori printer in time for then-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's attendance at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit.

The Sandiganbayan, however, said this argument is "a mere afterthought" since this was not stated in the BCS Disposition Form Control and the Justification on the Resort to Limited Source Bidding that facilitated the purchase of the equipment.

The Sandiganbayan added that the purchase of a press was not included in the BCS's annual budget plan.

The anti-graft court said prosecution also succeeded in proving the undue injury to the government based on the evidence that Ernest offered a 20-year-old unit that was only P50,000 cheaper than a brand-new offset press offered by Union Services.

"As pointed out by the prosecution, for a measly difference of P50,000.00 and by accepting Ernest Printing's secondhand press over the brand new one provided by Union Service, the BCS BAC effectively deprived BCS of the use of the full efficiency and full life of a brand-new equipment," the Sandiganbayan said.

Conspiracy also existed between Varona and his co-accused when they circumvented government procurement rules for the printer purchase, according to the Sandiganbayan.

These irregularities include charging the purchase against the BCS' Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses, the failure of holding a pre-bid conference, and the failure to require the winning bidder to post a warranty deposit. — BM, GMA News