Ombudsman sacks 8 Zambo employees for overpriced medicines
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales has ordered the dismissal from the service of eight municipal employees of Molave, Zamboanga del Sur for their involvement in the procurement of expired and overpriced medicines worth P1.8 million in 2009.
In a ten-page Decision, Ombudsman Morales directed the current municipal mayor of Molave to implement the dismissal of Bids and Award Committee members: Gasmelba Felicitas, Marcos Bahinting, Melita delos Santos, Nikki Omboy, Jerry Gene delos Santos and Lina Lou Gitalan. Also ordered dismissed were Municipal Accountant Martin Blanco, Jr. and inspector Eleuterio Galleto.
Felicitas, et al. were found guilty of Grave Misconduct and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service and were also meted out the accessory penalties of cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, and perpetual disqualification from reemployment in the government service.
The Commission on Audit (COA) found several irregularities in the procurement such as lack of public bidding, no eligibility check and no bid bonds submitted by bidders. The delivery, inspection and payment for the medicines were also found to have been processed in one day after the opening of the bids. The medicines were also overpriced by as much as 152% to 836%.
The COA also disclosed that the medicines were expired, with almost P1.2 million worth of medicines still undelivered. Respondents also procured Vitamin A capsules worth P645 thousand even if the vitamins were provided for free by the Department of Health.
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