Former Mt. Province officials convicted of graft over overpriced vehicle purchase

Mt. Province, Philippines – Ten former officials in Mt. Province, including a private supplier, who participated in the overpriced purchase of a government vehicle have been convicted by the Sandiganbayan of graft.

In 2006, the provincial government bought P843,700.91 worth of Mitsubishi L-300 Versa van for the Bontoc General Hospital from Ronhil Trading Incorporated owned by Ronaldo Kimakim.

The National Bureau of Investigation traced that the vehicle bearing the same license plate, chassis and engine numbers was bought by Kimakim from Motorplaza on March 29, 2006 for P756,000. That same day, the provincial government bought the same vehicle for P843,700.91 or a price difference of P87,700.91.

Kimakim, in a signed affidavit, said he received P10,000 fee for his services at the residence of the then provincial nurse Helen Macli-ing.

In a 62-page decision, the anti-graft court said all the defendants participated in the criminal offense by specifying a vehicle brand and model, which gave unwarranted advantage to the supplier, a violation of RA 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act.

According to the court, manifest partiality and evident bad faith were all present in the transaction.

Under RA 9184, reference to brand names is not allowed. The accused, however, still deliberately referred to a particular brand and model of vehicle in the procurement documents.

"All of the accused, consisting of the end-user representative and BAC officials, willingly turned a blind eye to the apparent violation of the procurement law by making reference to a specific brand and model of vehicle," it said.

Found guilty were former accountant Theodore A. Marrero, Provincial Health Officer Nenita D. Lizardo, Macli-ing, Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) Chairman Paulo P. Pagteilan and members Lily Rose T. Kollin, Florence R. Gut-omen, Edward B. Likigan, and Soledad Theresa F. Wanawan.

Also found guilty were former BAC Budget Officer II Jerome M. Falingao, Executive Assistant Abdon A. Imingan, Technical Inspection member Abelard T. Pachingel, and Kimakim.

The case against their co-accused, former governor Maximo B. Dalog Sr. was dismissed on account of his death in June 2017.

All those who were found guilty were sentenced to a prison term ranging from six to eight years with perpetual disqualification from holding public office. The former provincial officials were also banned from future employment in government through perpetual disqualification and forfeiture of all benefits.

The decision was written by Associate Justice Ronald B. Moreno, with the concurrence of Presiding Justice Amparo M. Cabotaje-Tang and Associate Justice Bernelito R. Fernandez.

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