APO Production Unit execs face P450-M graft, grave misconduct suit

At least 13 officials of state-run APO Production Unit led by APO Chairman and President Michael Dalumpines were sued for graft and grave misconduct before the office of the Ombudsman over the awarding of a P450 million contract for security enhancement of tobacco stamps to an unqualified bidder.

In a 17-page complaint, Kolonwei Trading Sales Manager Myrna Gonzales accused the APO officials of awarding the P450 million contract to joint venture IRSIS Corporation and Mara Linux and Business Solutions, Inc. even if the submissions of the said joint venture was found to be non-responsive to the documentary requirements set by the Technical Working Group for the government project.

Kolonwei, who lost the bid to the said joint venture, noted that IRSIS Corporation-Mara Linux-Business Solutions failed to submit several requirements to the TWG during the post-qualification stage, including: a sworn statement of all its ongoing contracts, including those contracts awarded but not yet started, whether it was similar in nature or not; a financial bid form; latest income and Business Tax Return.

“Despite the findings of the TWG, the respondents proceeded to award the contract to IRSIS Corporation-Mara Linux and Business Solutions on November 22, 2019,” the complaint read.

“The concerted act of the respondents in qualifying the bid of joint venture and awarding the contract to it despite failure to comply with eligibility requirements as noted by the TWG are clearly intended to bestow unwarranted benefits to the said joint venture to the damage and prejudice of the government in the amount of P202 million,” the complaint added.

Kolonwei Trading also argued that it was only informed of bidding results on December 9, 2019, a significant period after November 22, 2019 when the contract had been granted to IRSIS Corp.-Mara Linux and Business Solutions.

Other APO officials named in the complaint included:

• Philip Dionesio, Vice Chairman
• Guilmar Vidanes, Trustee and Executive
• Alvin Reyes, Trustee and General Manager
• Joel Caminade, Trustee and Treasurer
• Joel Obenza, Trustee
• Jose Julio, Trustee
• Karl Damian, Chairman, Bids and Awards Committee (BAC)
• Josefina Omol, Vice Chairperson, BAC
• Frederick Tarun, BAC member
• Dominic Tajon, BAC member
• Michael Santiago, BAC member and
• Ramon Matibag, BAC member

The complaint was received by the Office of the Ombudsman on February 24. — DVM, GMA News