Author Topic: Governor Acquitted Over Goat Scam Case  (Read 648 times)

pioneer

  • To God be the glory alone
  • FOUNDER
  • GURU
  • *****
  • Posts: 18911
  • stay at home
    • View Profile
    • spiritual preparation
Governor Acquitted Over Goat Scam Case
« on: August 28, 2008, 09:54:11 AM »
By The Bohol Chronicle

The Ombudsman has dismissed criminal and administrative cases for graft and corruption against Gov. Erico Aumentado and three others filed by a lawyer in 2003 for alleged purchase of goats at too high a price.

In a nine-page-resolution, Graft Investigation and Prosecution Officer I Cynthia Maturan-Sibi of the Office of the Ombudsman for the Visayas dismissed the criminal aspect of the case on June 30, 2006 for lack of merit.

In a 10-page decision, she also dismissed the administrative aspect of the case on the same date, similarly for lack of merit.

Both were reviewed by Director Edgardo Canton, recommended for approval by OIC Ombudsman-Visayas Virginia Palanca-Santiago and approved by Acting Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro on June 26, 2008.

Aside from Aumentado, named as respondents were then Officer-in-Charge Arnulfo Apalisok of the Bohol Poverty Reduction Management Office (BPRMO), lawyer Antonio Amora, then provincial administrator and Engr. Edwin Vallejos, provincial general services officer.

The case stemmed from the provincial government's purchase of 480 heads of does worth P720,000 or P1,500 each and P120 heads of bucks for P540,000 or P4,500 each.

BPRMO had bought the hybrid goats to provide alternate livelihood project as support to beneficiaries in 40 barangays to augment their income.

Lawyer Artemio Cabatos, human rights advocate and chair of the Boholanos Against Corruption, Oppression and Social Harassment (Bacos) filed the case. He presented documents showing that Nutrimart Enterprise submitted a quotation, tendered a bid and eventually won as evidenced by Purchase Order No. 169 signed by Vallejos and Amora as Aumentado's representative.

Apalisok signed the inspection and acceptance report, noted by Vallejos. Again Apalisok and Amora representing the governor signed the disbursement voucher while Nutrimart Enterprises issued an invoice reflecting the amount of P1.26 million.

Cabatos claimed that the amount the government paid was too high compared to the fair market value, and even higher that the prevailing market price per kilo - a transaction "manifestly and grossly disadvantageous to the government, violative of Sec. 3 (g) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act."

The order for Apalisok to submit a counter-affidavit however was returned to the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas unserved - the respondent had died.

In his counter-affidavit, Aumentado said the case was filed "purely for political purposes" - the allegations being similar to the cases Cabatos filed with the same office regarding the alleged overpricing in the purchase of 6,000 certified Sasso F1 two-month-old chicks or hybrid breeder stock also procured by BPRMO.

The timing of the filing of the goat case was also politically suspect as it was filed a few days before the May 10, 2004 elections and yet, Aumentado said, he went on to win overwhelmingly against his opponents in that political exercise.

The governor said the purchase of the goats was above board as it was neither suspended nor disallowed by the Commission on Audit (COA).

He said the need at the time for the 600 hybrid goats was urgent. In a letter, Apalisok had requested him for the immediate release of funds for the same considering that the project was a component of the provincial government's peace and order program, the beneficiaries being the 41 rebel-influenced barangays in Bohol, and the aim was to bring them back to the folds of the law.

Aumentado said the purchase was done through competitive bidding in accordance with the Rules on Procurement set in Sec. 356 of the Local Government Code of 1991.

Nutrimart Enterprises had won, its bid lower by P66,000 than Besas Agrivet, and by P48,000 than the quote of Dr. Egos Agrivet.

Aside from failure of the complainant to show concrete evidence that the price of the 600 goats were supposedly exorbitant, the price of a native goat cannot be reasonable compared to the price of a hybrid one.

And, he pointed out, he had not signed any of the documents in the questioned transaction, having delegated such authority to his co-respondents in order to unburden him of his multifarious duties being concurrently the chair of the Regional Development Council and the Regional Tourism Council, as well as

president of the League of Provinces of the Philippines at the time.

Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=14733.0
Romans 10:9
"That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved."
👇👇👇
Na-try mo na ba yung Tala app? Reliable sa unexpected expenses at laking tulong sa future! Use this code 9SO1TSL or visit www.tala.com to sign up!

unionbank online loan application low interest, credit card, easy and fast approval

Tags: