City told to show papers on questionable computers

The Cebu City government is asked to disclose all the documents pertaining to the alleged overpriced purchases of computers in the barangays of the north district in 2002.

Roque Nacar, who earlier prodded Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez to look into possible irregularities committed by the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas in the investigation of the alleged anomaly, believes that the city government keeps the record of the transaction.

Nacar, in his letter to city administrator Francisco Fernandez, said it will be known whether or not the P500,000 allocated by Rep. Raul del Mar as financial assistance for the  procurement of computers to the barangays in his district was released.

“I want to know if the funds had been officially released and get copies of the release records. If not, I want to request a certification to this effect,” Nacar said.

Nacar, who claims to be a concerned citizen from barangay Labangon, said that based on the documents they obtained the money was released for barangays Zapatera, Pahina Central, Ermita, Luz, Lahug, Busay, Guba, Adlaon, Binaliw, Lusaran, Pasil, Sambag I, Mabolo, Agsungot, Hipodromo, Carreta, Camputhaw, Apas, Sto. Niño, and Pulangbato.

The P500,000 financial assistance for each barangay was allegedly intended for the purchase of the computer, which was reportedly overpriced.

Nacar said that the investigation earlier docketed by the Ombudsman Visayas, which was dismissed for being unconsummated, only pertains to barangay Carreta. According to Nacar, they believe that the purchase of computers for the other barangays has been consummated.

In fact, this is now a subject of his complaint before the Office of Ombudsman Gutierrez.

Nacar earlier requested Gutierrez to investigate the case because “the Office of the Visayas Ombudsman may have been remiss in dismissing” it.

Nacar said there were two complaints filed before the Ombudsman Visayas relative to the alleged anomalous procurement of the computers in the north district. He said that the first complaint was filed in January 3, 2003 by Carreta barangay councilman Antonio Conahap against then barangay captain Mariano Ando.

Conahap requested the anti-graft’s assistance on the perceived anomaly in the auditing of the financial assistance released by the Department of Budget and Management for the purchase of computers for their barangay.

Another complaint was filed by Mariano Nadera on January 13, 2003 for violation of Republic Act 3019 otherwise known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act against Rep. del Mar, former barangay captain Helen Bolabola, and the official of the Global Trade Development Corporation who supplied the alleged overpriced computers.

Nadera alleged that the computers distributed to all the barangays in the north district were bought at P100,000 each, when it actually only cost P39,000 each.

Nadera in his complaint then alleged that the bidding was rigged by del Mar and Bolabola, the congressman’s chief of staff. The P10 million used for the purchase of the computers was taken from the Local Government Service Equalization Fund of del Mar.

The complaint however was dismissed by then Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Primo Miro upon the recommendation of director Virginia Palanca Santiago for lack of evidence.

In a resolution dated August 27, 2003, the Ombudsman Visayas said that there was no injury to the government yet because the voucher for payment of the computers was cancelled. – Fred P. Languido/MEEV