Ombudsman orders Bangued mayor's sacking over POL purchases

The Office of the Ombudsman ordered the dismissal and perpetual disqualification from public office of Bangued, Abra Mayor Dominic Valera for grave misconduct over the LGU's purchase of petroleum from Valera family-owned firms.

In an 18-page ruling, Ombudsman Samuel Martires said that the municipality of Bangued entered into a series of transaction and released payments to companies Abra Petron owned by Dominic and wife Mila as, well as DMJS owned by their daughter Sylvia and son-in-law Jay, making Mayor Dominic administratively liable.

The Ombudsman pointed out that Bangued’s total petroleum, oil, and lubricant purchases from these firms had reached P1.17 million from January to April 2015 alone, well exceeding the threshold of P100,000 for shopping and small value procurement for a first class municipality like Bangued.

Moreover, the Ombudsman said that vouchers proved that the Bangued LGU had been consuming over P100,000 worth of petroleum, oil and lubricant every month, making public bidding mandatory.

“It is glaring from the records that he used his position or office to ensure that the Municipality of Bangued would procure gasoline, oil, and lubricants from Abra Petron,” the Ombudsman’s decision read.

“Undisputedly, the municipality’s huge amount of consumption of petroleum, oil and lubricant negates respondent Dominic’s claim that they are merely incidental to the Municipality’s operation.”

In closing, the Ombudsman invoked the Local Government Code and the Code of Conduct for Public Officials and Employees which forbids a public official or employee to have direct or indirect financial interests in any transaction requiring the approval of his office.

“Despite such prohibitions, respondent Dominic allowed to continue the procurement of petroleum, oil and lubricant from Abra Petron in which he has direct interest,” the Ombudsman said.

“Bangued’s procurement of these products from the said firms could not materialize without respondent’s Dominic intervention and approval being the local chief executive and head of procuring entity, Hence, these transactions are prohibited by law.”

Aside from dismissal and perpetual disqualification from public office, the Ombudsman also cancelled the Bangued mayor's eligibility for retirement benefits and barred him from taking civil service examinations.

His wife and Bangued's Barangay Zone 5 Chairman Mila Valera, on the other hand, was slapped with a one-year suspension from office, without pay, for exhibiting conduct prejudicial to the best interests of the service.

Other respondents Henry Bodaño (Municipal Accountant), Romie Turquesa (Municipal Treasurer) and Amelia Bersamira (Municipal Budget Officer), for their part, were likewise dismissed from office like tdue to gross neglect of duty and conduct prejudicial to the best interests of the service. — DVM, GMA News