Tom fears “overpriced” PC scam will besmirch Cebu

Mayor Tomas Osmeña is afraid that the latest controversy on the purchase of “overpriced” personal computers by the Lapu-Lapu City government amounting to P23.4 million may affect or destroy the credibility of the Cebuanos.

Osmeña admitted that he, as the chief executive officer of Cebu City, is affected by this because he is afraid that the bad publicity of Lapu-Lapu City could destroy the good image of the other places of Cebu.

Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Arturo Radaza and 19 other city officials and employees have already been charged before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas for alleged connivance in overpricing the amount.

It showed that each of the computer unit bought by the Lapu-Lapu City government is worth over P49,000 when in fact a similar set can be had at only P25,000 in other reputable computer dealers.

This prompted the concerned group of businessmen in Lapu-Lapu City headed by Efrain Pelaez to file criminal charges against Radaza and the other respondents, including the city’s education superintendent Serena Uy.

Osmeña said he hopes those found responsible for the anomalous purchase of personal computers will be sanctioned and asked the Cebu City treasurer’s office to speed up its investigation into why the supplier of said personal computers, Kein Enterprises, only declared P4.8 million of gross income last year when it reality they had won the P23.4 million contract.

The mayor said he wants proper legal actions against the operator of Kein Enterprises, which is based in barangay Apas, Cebu City, if proven they falsified the documents they submitted to Cebu City Hall.

Kein Enterprises was issued by the Cebu City government with business permit for general merchandise.  While it only declared only P4.8 million in gross income last year, the records showed that it won the P23.4-million contract to supply Lapu-Lapu City with 470 computer units.  — Rene U. Borromeo/BRP