Vice mayor files graft, admin raps vs. Santo Tomas, Pampanga mayor

Criminal and administrative complaints have been filed against officials of the municipality of Sto. Tomas, Pampanga, including incumbent Mayor Gloria P. Ronquillo, over alleged anomalous purchase last month of three motor vehicles that were allegedly overpriced by P12,485,000.00

In separate criminal and administrative complaints lodged before the Office of the Ombudsman, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and the Department of Interior and Local Government, Sto. Tomas vice mayor Matias Pineda accused Mayor Ronquillo; Regina C. Carreon, municipal treasurer; Nympha B. Lacsina, acting municipal accountant; Glibert B. Cruz, chairman of the town’s Bids and Awards Committee; Eliza Quiambao, secretary of the BAC; and Rowell D. Benitez, bidders representative of JAC Automobile International Philippines, Inc. of committing graft for the alleged overpriced purchase of one fire truck, one mini-dump truck and one ambulance.

Pineda said the respondents should be held criminally and administratively liable for violating Republic Act 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and for violating the rules under Republic Act 9184, otherwise known as “Government Procurement Reform Act”, and for overpricing in conspiracy with the supplier of three motor vehicles where the mayor has allegedly a patent conflict of interest because “it is an open secret” that the mayor “is very close to the owners” of the supplier JAC Automobile International Philippines Inc.

Graft charges filed vs. Sto. Tomas, Pampanga mayor by Lui BG on Scribd

Pineda claimed that the mayor, along with the others conspired with an automobile shop for the purchase of 3 motor vehicles in the overpriced amount of P12,485,000.00

The prices of the purchased vehicles were P3.5 million for the ambulance,P4.5 million for the fire truck and P3.9 million for the mini-dump truck.

The complainant alleged that the contracts were undertaken without any resolution from the Sanggunian Bayan and without  compliance with the procurement rules.

“After hearing on the merits, it is respectfully prayed that the respondents Mayor Gloria P. Ronquillo (et all) . . . be charged before the . . . Sandiganbayan with violation of Section 3 (e), (h), and (i) of RA 3019 otherwise known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act,” the complainant pleaded the anti-graft body.

The complainant also sought for the preventive suspension of the questioned Sto. Tomas officials for six months pending investigation by the Ombudsman.

GMA News Online tried contacting Mayor Ronquillo but she has yet to give her comment regarding the complaint.  —LBG, GMA News