Zamboanga del Sur ex-mayor, eight others face graft for P1.8-M medicine purchase 

The Office of the Ombudsman has directed the filing of a graft case against former Molave, Zamboanga del Sur Mayor Flavio Saniel, Jr. over the alleged anomalous procurement of expired and overpriced medicines worth P1.8 million.

Ordered filed against Saniel before the Sandiganbayan was a case of violation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Also ordered charged with the same offense were former municipal government’s Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) members Marcos Bahinting, Melita delos Santos, Gasmelba Felicitas, Nikki Omboy, Jerry delos Santos, Martin Blanco, Jr., Lina Lou Gitalan and Eleuterio Galleto.

Based on the Ombudsman’s investigation, Saniel, in 2009, allegedly ordered the procurement of P1.8-million worth of medicines allegedly through “sham bidding.”

The Ombudsman gave weight on a Commission on Audit (COA) report citing irregularities in the bidding for the purchase contract such as the BAC’s supposed failure to indicate in the invitation to bid the required details such as the Approved Budget for the Contract, date of opening of bids and list of eligibility requirements.

“What is even more significant is the apparent haste in which the supposed biddings were conducted…The medicines were paid for, delivered and inspected immediately the day after the bidding although bidders are from Parañaque, Quezon City and Pasay City,” the resolution signed by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales read.

The Ombudsman said the COA also found out in its audit investigation that the medicines were overpriced by as much as P997,193 and that P587,068-worth of these delivered medicines were already expired.

The Ombudsman said the audit report also showed that the Vitamin A capsules bought for P645,620 were actually distributed free of charge by the Department of Health. 

Section 3 (e) of RA 3019 prohibits public official from giving unwarranted benefit, advantage or preference to any party or from causing any party, including the government, undue injury. — VVP, GMA News