Ex-Zambo Norte execs get 6–12 years over SUV purchase sans public bidding

The Sandiganbayan Sixth Division has convicted a former mayor and a former vice mayor of Labason, Zamboanga del Norte of graft in connection with their purchase of a secondhand sport utility vehicle (SUV) without public bidding.

In a 53-page ruling, the anti-graft court ruled that then-Mayor Wilfredo Balais and his Vice Mayor Virgilio Go purchased a Nissan Patrol Wagon—a vehicle actually owned by Balais and sold to a certain Eduardo Ayunting at a considerably low price of P500,000 before the local government unit purchased it for P960,000 without public bidding—back in January 2011.

The anti-graft court sided with the prosecution’s argument that Balais made it appear that he sold said vehicle to Ayunting for P500,000 by executing the first Deed of Sale, only for Ayunting to sell the said vehicle to Labason LGU for P960,000—all within two months.

The Sandiganbayan also noted that the supposed competitive bidding conducted was riddled with irregularities since the three prospective bidders failed to submit certain requirements such as tax clearance, bidder's statements, audited financial statements, computation of the Net Financial Contracting Capacity, among others.

Likewise, the bidders were not able to meet the required previous experience in undertaking a similar project with an amount of at least 50 percent of the proposed project and did not submit eligibility statement and bid security.

“This Court finds that the evidence is more consistent with the prosecution's theory.  From these glaring irregularities, it is evident that the so called bidding is nothing but a sham,” the anti-graft court said.

“This Court finds that the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt that there was no public bidding for the procurement of the subject vehicle. Wherefore, accused Wilfredo Salais and Virgilio Go are found guilty beyond reasonable doubt of Violation of Sec. 3(e) of Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act,” the Sandiganbayan added.

As a result of their conviction, the former Labason local executives were sentenced to spend six to 12 years in prison on top of being barred from holding public office in perpetuity.

Ayunting was dropped from the charge sheet since he served as a state witness. — BM, GMA News