Samar mayor faces graft raps over catering anomalies

The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the indictment of Jiabong, Samar Mayor Jocelyn de Jesus for graft over the alleged anomalous availment of catering services in the municipality in 2012.

De Jesus will face 16 counts of violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act at the Sandiganbayan.

Then-Municipal Budget Officer Arnaldo Morabor, Municipal Treasurer Erna Morabor, Municipal Accountant Rolando Jabeguero and Helen's Catering Services proprietor Helen Labrague were also tagged as respondents in the case.

In its resolution, the Ombudsman cited the 2012 report of the Commission on Audit which found irregularities in the catering service contracts entered into by the local government.

The COA had found that P2.6 million was released to facilitate the procurement of 32 catering contracts, 16 of which went to Helen's Catering.

However, COA said the respondents illegally resorted to an alternative mode of procurement for the contracts even if the approved budget per transaction exceeded thresholds set by the Government Procurement Reform Act.

The contracts also either had no or questionable supporting documents such as purchase requests, purchase orders, disbursement vouchers, and eligibility requirements.

"It is undisputed that the value of the 16 catering transactions exceeded the threshold set by law, yet public respondent Arnaldo proceeded with the procurement thereof without public bidding," the Ombudsman said.

"Despite the patent irregularities in the supporting documents, public respondents De Jesus, Erna and Jabeguero still caused payment to private respondent [Labrague]. Public respondents’ flagrant disregard of R.A. No. 9184 is evidenced by the fact that they committed the infractions 16 times in 2012,” it added.

The Ombudsman also ordered the dismissal from the service of Arnaldo, Erna, and Jabeguero after finding them guilty of grave misconduct.

This administrative offense carries the accessory penalties of perpetual disqualification from public office, forfeiture of retirement benefits, cancellation of eligibility, and bar from taking the civil service examination. —KG, GMA News