Gazmin reorders Bids and Awards as Boac reclaims chair

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin has ordered a re-organization of the Department of National Defense’s Bids and Awards Committee amid the re-appointment of retired Maj. Gen. Ernesto Boac who was charged, but subsequently cleared, of plunder.

 

The Department of Justice charged Boac based on a complaint filed by former military budget officer George Rabusa.

 

The Bids and Awards Committee, or BAC, is in charge of the armed force’s procurement program.

 

Boac will chair the BAC in concurrent capacity as the DND’s assistant secretary for comptrollership. 

 

Gazmin said that the BAC members will have a fixed term of one year unless they are removed for cause.

 

The vice chairman of the newly-reorganized BAC is Atty. Cherrie Belmonte-Lim, who is the concurrent chief of the Office of Legal Affairs.

 

The BAC’s previous chairman, Assistant Secretary for Acquisition, Installations and Logistics Patrick Velez, is now a mere member of the committee, along with Director Alexander Gonzales who is assigned in Velez’ office; Director Marita Yoro of the office of the assistant secretary for strategic assessment; and Army Col. Joselito Reyes.

 

Gazmin said the vice commanders of the AFP’s major services and the heads of DND agencies and bureaus will sit as provisional members of the committee when it deals with equipment and supplies procurement for their organization’s use.

 

Boac took a leave as assistant secretary for comptrollership and BAC chairman in June last year after Rabusa filed a complaint against him.

 

Boac’s assistant secretary post was handled in concurrent capacity by Undersecretary for Finance, Munitions, Installation and Materiel Fernando Manalo while the BAC chairmanship was handled by Velez.

 

On January 2 this year, Boac re-assumed his post as assistant secretary for comptrollership but not the BAC chairmanship.

 

A few days later, the DOJ dropped the charges against Boac and several other personalities.

 

Nevertheless, the DOJ recommended the filing of plunder cases against several others, including former AFP chiefs Gens. Diomedio Villanueva and Roy Cimatu, and former military comptrollers Carlos Garcia and Jacinto Ligot. — DVM, GMA News