Romblon mayor faces graft for questionable seedling purchase

The mayor of San Andres, Romblon has been charged with graft before the Sandiganbayan for his alleged questionable purchase of seedlings worth P550,000 in 2014.

Prosecutors from the Office of the Ombudsman charged Mayor Fernald Rovillos for one count of violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Then-municipal accountant Melinda Gaac, municipal planning and development officer Mary Claire Mortel, Bids and Awards Committee chairman Caezar Valiente, BAC vice chairman Gay Tan, and BAC member Genny Rose Vergara face the same charges.

Perlas Seed Growers proprietor Reynaldo Perlas is the sole private respondent named in the case.

Rovillos and his co-accused allegedly “wilfully, unlawfully and criminally give Perlas Seed Growers unwarranted benefit, advantage or preference” for the purchase of 10,000 pieces of Bitaog Seedlings worth P550,000.

The prosecution said the contract was awarded to Perlas Seed Growers through direct contracting despite the lack of a certification from the Department of Trade and Industry that no other firm offered the same seedlings at a lower price.

Perlas Seed Growers also received the full payment of the purchase price from the local government even if the delivered Bitaog seedlings were incomplete.

The actions of Rovillos and his co-accused caused disadvantageous terms to the government and violated the Government Procurement Reform Act and Commission on Audit Circular No. 2012-001, according to the prosecution.

A total bail bond of P30,000 has been recommended for each accused in the case. — MDM, GMA News