Ombudsman files graft charges against DPWH execs
17 February 2012
The Office of the Ombudsman filed graft charges before the Sandiganbayan against ranking officials of the Dept. of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) – Region VII for the P35M street lighting projects in Lapu-lapu City in 2007.
In the Information approved by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, charged were Regional Dir. Robert Lala; Asst. Regional Dir. Gloria Dindin; Asst. Regional Dir. And Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) Chairperson Marlina Alvizo; Maintenance Division OIC-Chief Pureza Fernandez; BAC members Cresencio Bagolor, Agustinito Hermoso, Luis Galang and Restituto Diano ; Technical Working Group (TWG) members Ayaon Manggis, Marilyn Ojeda, and Teresa Bernido; and private respondent Gerardo Surla.
The said officials were charged with Violation of Sec. 3(e) of RA 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act).
The Information stated that the said officials “willfully, unlawfully and criminally cause the award through negotiated procurement of Contract ID No. 06H00048 consisting of four projectsâ€, namely: 1) Supply and Installation of testing and commissioning of L.E.D. bulbs, traffic signal lantern and other traffic control devices at junctions ML Quezon Avenue-Terminal Bldg access road and ML Quezon Avenue-Patalinghug Avenue; 2)Supply and Installation of street lighting facilities along Punta Engaño Road Network, Lapu-lapu City; 3) Supply and installation of street lighting facilities (decorative lamps) along Patalinghug Avenue (ML Quezon-Sangi section), Lapu-lapu City; and 4) Supply and installation of street lighting facilities (decorative lamps) along Patalinghug Avenue (ML Quezon-Sangi Section), Lapu-lapu City on 08 March 2007.
The contract, which costs P35,634,401.25, was signed between Dindin and Surla, Chairman of the Board of Gampik Construction and Development Inc..
It said the respondents, in awarding the contract to Gampik, resorted to negotiated bidding and not competitive bidding in violation of RA 9184 (Government Procurement Reform Act).
Moreover, the Information said the contract price for the said project is “in excess by P12,629,816.99 as against the Ombudsman computation of only P23,004,584.2†in violation of COA Circular No. 85-55A which only allows a 10% price variance.
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