Anomalous 2007 furniture program: 4 former DepEd officials enter ‘not guilty’ plea

CEBU, Philippines - Four out of seven former officials of the Department of Education - Cebu Province Division, facing charges for alleged anomalous bidding, entered a “not guilty” plea recently.

Former assistant schools division superintendent Judiana Corriente; education supervisor I Physical Facilities Coordinator and Bids and Awards Committee vice chairman Romualdo Abella; principal II and BAC member Willie Adonay Jr.; and accountant II Gervasia Sanchez denied the allegations filed against them during their arraignment on August 26.

The preliminary conference is set on September 23 and the pre-trial conference on October 26.

Former school division superintendent Serena Uy, who used to head the Procurement Entity; BAC member Norberto Torbeso, and Daria Sarsalejo, former public schools district supervisor and BAC member, were not yet arraigned.

Torbeso remains at large while Sarsalejo was hospitalized during the scheduled arraignment.

The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas charged all the accused for alleged anomalous bidding that violated Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019, otherwise known as Anti-graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

 “…while in the performance of their official/administrative functions and committing the offense in relation to office, conniving, confederating, with each other…did then and there willfully, unlawfully and criminally gave Gala Industries Corporation unwarranted benefits preference or advantage by causing premature payment of said school to the damage and prejudice of the government,” the resolution read.

The Public Assistance and Corruption Prevention Office of the Office of the Ombudsman alleged on July 25, 2008 that the BAC of DepEd Cebu Province conducted a bidding for the 2007 School Furniture Program with a total approved budget for the contract of P17,758,420.

 Three bidders participated in the bidding, namely the JEC Lumber Corp. with P17,228,446.60 amount of bid; the Ramagal Door and Sash with P17,359,963; and Gala Industries Inc. with P17,683,555.

The BAC declared the Gala Industries as the winning bidder.

PACPO, however, claimed that the accused committed irregularities before, during and after the bidding when the bidding was not published in the PhilGEPS.

PhilGEPS is the central portal that hosts information on the procurement of goods and general support services, civil works or infrastructure projects and consulting services undertaken by procuring entities of the government.

In addition, PACPO said the pre-bid conference was scheduled only nine days before the deadline of bids instead of the mandatory 12 days.

Sara Galang, the authorized representative of Gala, was reportedly seen in a closed-door meeting with BAC officers before the opening of bids.

 The Commission on Audit, according to PACPO, found out that DepEd officials authorized the payment of tables, armchairs, and desks to Gala into four installments without the required inspection and acceptance report from recipient schools. There were reportedly defective tables, desks and armchairs, costing P3,089,256.32.

The accused denied the allegations filed against them, saying they disqualified JEC and Ramagal because of unsatisfactorily performance in the implementation of the 2004-2005 School Furniture Program.

Graft investigation and prosecution officer Jerry Patcho ruled that accused acted with manifest partiality when they did not allegedly comply with the mandatory provisions of Republic Act 9184 or Government Procurement Reform Law and its revised implementing rules when there was no posting of bids in the PhilGEPS and when the pre-bid conference was held less than 12 days before the opening of the bids.  (FREEMAN)