108 counts of graft filed against CDO mayor

The Office of the Ombudsman on Friday filed 108 counts of graft against Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Romulo Rodriguez Jr. and seven other city officials in connection with alleged anomalous contracts entered into by the officials between June 1998 and June 2000. Charged along with Rodriguez were health officer Vincent L. Gonzaga, accountant Tita G. Garrido, treasurer Adelina S. Espantaleon, general services office OIC chief Benito D. Empalmado, budget officer Reynaldo N. Puno, supply officer III Renato C. Chaves and Diogenes Y. Bullecer, who was later appointed head of the city’s general services office. All eight officials were members of the bids and awards committee. The Commission on Audit also found that eight businessmen received undue favors from the city government in the awarding of the contracts. The businessmen were also charged in court. They were identified as Ma. Zenaida G. Leonen of Leonine Enterprises, Teodoro J. Caguiat of Foremost Drug Center, Clarissa E. Yuson of Clarenzon Marketing, Lourdes R. Abadies of GL Distributors, Tessie T. Latorre of Multi-Medic Pharmaceutical Distributors, Evelyn L. Tero of E and M Trading, Marietta L. Fornolles of M and F Tradelines and Jonathan C. Yuson of JB Drug Trading. Government prosecutor Milagros de Jesus-Macaraig said there was conspiracy among the accused to defraud the government. Auditors reported that some of the items were overpriced by as much as 30 to 406 percent compared to a list provided by the Department of Health and the Northern Mindanao Medical Center. The auditors noted that the prices were way above the maximum allowable variance of only 10 percent that was supposed to cover the cost of transportation and delivery. The 108 supply contracts signed between 1998 and 2000 amounted to P3.76 million, a tag price that COA auditors said was P2.28 million over what the same items would have cost under the DOH-NMMC price list. The defendants said the contracts were entered into in good faith and in routine performance of their official functions. The Office of the Ombudsman, however, noted “glaring evidence" that the officials ignored the DOH-NMMC price list, favored only the eight businessmen and left the prequalification review only to Gonzaga. “The city government bought drugs and medicines of the same generic name and manufacturers at prices 30 percent to 406 percent higher than prices paid by the DOH and NMMC," the Ombudsman Resolution said. Macaraig recommended that bail bonds for the defendants be set at P23,000 each. The mayor and the other Cagayan de Oro officials will have to shell out P2.48 million for their temporary liberty. – GMANews.TV