Ex-Zambo mayor perpetually barred from gov't service

 

The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the perpetual disqualification from public service of former Labason, Zamboanga Del Norte mayor Wilfredo Balais for allowing the municipal government to acquire a vehicle he previously owned at an unreasonable price.

In a resolution, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales ordered Balais’ dismissal from government service after finding him guilty of grave misconduct and serious dishonesty. 

But since Balais is no longer in office, the Ombudsman said the penalty is convertible to fine equivalent to one year’s salary during his term as mayor.

Aside from his dismissal, Balais was ordered perpetually disqualified from holding public office with cancellation of eligibility and forfeiture of retirement benefits. 

Based on the Ombudsman’s investigation, Balais sold his Nissan Patrol vehicle to a certain Eduardo Ayunting in November 2010 for P500,000. The deed of sale was executed by Balais and Ayunting in Cagayan de Oro City

However, in January 2011, Ayunting entered into a contract with the local government of Labason for the purchase of the same vehicle for P960,000, with the deed of sale signed by Vice Mayor Virgilio Go.

On August 2011, the municipal council passed a resolution calling for the rescission of the contract because the purchase was found “disadvantageous to the government”.

“As the vehicle’s previous owner, respondent Mayor knew that the price was exorbitant having sold it two months earlier at a much lower price,” the Ombudsman’s resolution read.

“In fact, if (Balais) is truly concerned, he should have warned the respondent Vice-mayor not to proceed with the sale, yet he did nothing until the sale was perfected,” the Ombudsman added.

The Ombudsman said investigation also revealed that the municipality’s purchase of the vehicle “was not in accordance with the procurement laws”. 

Meanwhile, the Ombudsman found Balais’ co-accused, former municipal accountant Christy Buganutan and former municipal treasurer Melchor Chipoco guilty of neglect of duty.

They were ordered suspended for three months, but since they were no longer in office, the penalty is convertible to a fine equivalent to three months’ worth of their salary.

The Ombudsman said Buganutan and Chipoco’s liability hinged on their act of processing the disbursement voucher and the check for payment of the vehicle despite non-compliance with procurement rules.

In June last year, the Ombudsman, through its Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), filed a graft case against Balais, Go and Ayunting before the Sandiganbayan over the same issue. — APG, GMA News