Ombudsman indicts Surigao del Sur mayor over 'anomalous' hydraulic excavator purchase

The Office of the Ombudsman on Friday has ordered the filing of graft charges against Bislig, Surigao del Sur Mayor Librado Navarro for his alleged anomalous purchase of a hydraulic excavator in 2012.

The Ombudsman charged Navarro with one count of violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act No. 3019).

Records recovered by the Ombudsman showed the questionable purchase by the city government of a Komatsu crawler-type hydraulic excavator from RDAK on July 18, 2012 worth P14.7 million.

The Commission on Audit (COA) report also showed that the project was awarded to RDAK despite its non-compliance with the technical specifications concerning the engine power, bucket capacity and operating weight.  Due to questions that attended the procurement, the COA issued a Notice of Disallowance on October 23, 2012.

The Ombudsman found that RDAK did not truthfully present the specification of the Komatsu unit in its bid.

Also charged were Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) chairman Charlito Lerog (City Administrator), and BAC members, namely: City Treasurer Roberto Viduya, City Planning Development Coordinator Aprodecio Alba Jr., General Services Officer Felipe Sabaldan Jr., City Budget Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Belma Lomantas, OIC-City Engineer Lorna Salgado, and City Legal Officer Daisy Ronquillo; Technical Working Group (TWG) members City Accountant Raquel Bautista, Gilbert Abugan, Laila Manlucob, and Estefa Mata; and Cesar Ner of  RDAK Transport Equipment Inc.

Under Section 3(e) of R.A. No. 3019, public officials are prohibited from causing any undue injury to any party, or giving any private party any unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference in the discharge of his official administrative or judicial functions through manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence. —Anna Felicia Bajo/JST, GMA News