Ombudsman orders dismissal of Iriga’s 3 local execs

MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman ordered the dismissal from government service of three local officials of Iriga for their involvement in a P2.9-million fertilizer fund anomaly. 

Ordered dismissed were Iriga City Accountant Aida Estonido, City Agriculturist Edwin Lapuz, and Prequalification Bids and Awards Committee chairman Aldo Turiano.

They were found to have committed acts of dishonesty, grave misconduct, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.        

The administrative cases against them stemmed from a complaint filed by Ombudsman investigators from its Task Force Abono.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales found that Estonido, Turiano and Lapuz violated procurement laws in connection with the purchase of 789 liters of Young Magic Foliar Fertilizer worth P2.9 million from Madarca Trading, with the city government failing to conduct public bidding and making reference to specific brand names. 

The retail price of Young Magic fertilizer was P125 per liter as compared to the LGU budget set at P3,800 per liter, which means an overprice of P2,787,191.    

Graft investigators said Estonido and Turiano’s knowledge of and participation in the illegal transaction were evidenced by their signatures in two acceptance and inspection reports. 

Records show that as city agriculturist, Lapuz reported to the PBAC the purported urgency of supplying fertilizers to the farmers despite the absence of imminent danger to life or property. 

The Office of the Ombudsman said the principal penalty of dismissal from the service carries with it the accessory penalties of cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, perpetual disqualification from holding public office, and from taking civil service examinations.