Cotabato vice mayor faces raps for eyeglass procurement

The Office of the Ombudsman has found probable cause to file criminal charges against Makilala, Cotabato Vice Mayor Ricky Cua in connection with the alleged anomalous purchase of reading glasses worth P99,000 in 2013.

In a 10-page resolution recently signed by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, Cua was ordered to be charged with two counts of falsification of public documents as defined under the Revised Penal Code (RPC), as well as violations of Section 65(3) of Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act and Section 7(a) of RA 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

Same charges were also ordered to be filed against the municipality’s Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) members Roel Caoagdan, Mario Ranis, Edwin Arellano and Pio Abonado Jr.

Another BAC member, Giovanni Ignacio, meanwhile, was ordered to be charged only with two counts of falsification.

Based on the Ombudsman investigation, Cua, procured 314 pairs of eyeglasses worth P99,000 in 2013 supposed to be for his senior citizen constituents.

The Ombudsman said Cua and his co-accused used falsified bidding documents to facilitate the procurement as well as the reimbursement from the local government funds.

“It was Cua himself who purchased the eyeglasses, and who prepared and processed the supporting documents in order to get refunded of their supposed value,” the Ombudsman statement quoted the resolution as saying.

“Respondent Cua made use of the invoice in successfully obtaining the supposed reimbursement of the P99,000.00 in his favor, without which the refund would not have prospered,” the resolution added.

The Ombudsman further alleged that Cua had used his position to “unduly influence and exert unwarranted pressure” on the BAC members to declare Naem Merchandise as the chose supplier.

The Ombudsman said that based on its probe, the BAC members falsified a resolution as well the abstract of canvass to make it appear that Naem submitted the most advantageous price during the bidding.

The Ombudsman said these documents, together with a falsified cash invoice, were used to support Cua’s request for reimbursement. — Elizabeth Marcelo/RSJ, GMA News