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Seven high-ranking officials of the government-owned Davao City Water District (DCWD), two of them were already resigned and one had retired from the service, were ordered dismissed from the service by the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with the award of contracts to a Davao City-based company for the drilling of two production wells without public bidding.

Found guilty for grave misconduct, abuse of authority, dishonesty and negligence were Wilfredo C. Carbonquillo, former DCWD general manager; Wilfred G. Yamson, general manager; Alfonso E. Laid, assistant general manager for operations; William V. Guillen, manager of the legal department; Arnold D. Navales, manager of the systems and internal audit department (SIAD); Rey C. Chavez, manager of the engineering and construction department (ECD); and, Rosindo J. Almonte, ECD division manager.

The Ombudsman also ordered the forfeiture of retirement benefits and perpetual disqualification from reemployment in the government service of the DCWD officials.

The case of the dismissed officials arose from two administrative complaints filed by DCWD officers, Danilo C. Castro and George F. Inventor, SIAD division manager and internal control officer, respectively, for the award of contract to Hydrock Wells, a drilling company based in Davao City, for the drilling of one deep production well in Cabantian and another in Communal, all in Buhangin district, in February 1998 both without public bidding in gross violation of existing laws.

The production well in Cabantian cost P2.807 million while in Communal was valued at P2.309 million. Under present rules and regulations, any public works project worth more than P1 million is subject to public bidding, usually through advertisements in newspapers of general circulation. Contracts for projects costing less than P1 million may be awarded to a private contractor through direct negotiation. - PNA

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