Gordon asked to probe printing anomalies

A group of accredited private printers asked Sen. Richard Gordon yesterday to look into alleged anomalies at the National Printing Office.

In a letter, a copy of which was provided to reporters, Anselmo Badillo, Ernest Printing sales manager, asked Gordon to look into the alleged anomalies surrounding the awarding of a project to a company identified as Readyforms Inc.

Badillo gave Gordon’s office documents purportedly containing information on Readyforms in one of its transactions in Rizal. 

It involved a purchase request where documents supposedly showed that the Province of Rizal’s original purchase order of P757,000  was padded to P2.5 million.

Badillo also questioned the move of the National Printing Office-Bids and Awards Committee to award a printing contract to Readyforms despite some of its questionable transactions in the past.

"(It) prevented our company from participating in the supposed competitive public bidding and instead award the contract to the predetermined and favored winning bidder, Readyforms Inc.," he said.

Bestform, another private printer, shared Badillo’s concerns after the company was also struck out of the bidding process.

Robert Bunagan, Eastland Printink finance manager, also asked Gordon to look into the alleged extortion activities at the NPO.

Bunagan said some top NPO officials are demanding a 6.5-percent commission for every contract with the agency. 

Out of the 6.5-percent, a top official was to get five percent share, while the remaining 1.5-percent would be divided among other staff members.

The STAR did not identify the names of officials mentioned in the letter since the matter has been brought up to the attention of NPO officer-in-charge Felipe Evardone.

The three printing executives are urging Gordon to conduct an inquiry, adding that they are willing to expose all other anomalies in the NPO.

They also asked Gordon to call on government auditor Teodoro Baylon to release his findings on the alleged anomalies inside the agency.

The National Printing Office (NPO) is responsible for the printing of government forms. — Christina Mendez