5 AFP officers face graft raps over P5.25-M gun contract

 Five military officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) were charged yesterday with graft in connection with an allegedly anomalous contract involving the dealing, purchase, selling, and manufacture of guns and ammunition worth about P5.25 million.

Charged were Col. Artemio Cacal, chief officer of the Philippine Army-Research and Development Center; Maj. Artemio Caniete, chairman of the Philippine Navy Technical Inspection and Acceptance Committee (TIAC); Capt. Warlito Chee, Philippine Navy procurement officer, Research and Development Center; Capt. Henry Obin, Philippine Army, TIAC member, and Capt. Abraham Albano, TIAC member.

Assistant Special Prosecutor I Kristine Jennifer Carreon of the Office of the Ombudsman recommended P30,000 bail bond each for the temporary release of the accused.

The officers were charged with approving and accepting 1,000 pieces of chrome-plated barrels to replace defective parts of M-16 rifles for P5.25 million from Floro International Corp. in Camp Melchor, Libis, Quezon City on Dec. 23, 1996.

Floro was engaged in buying, dealing, selling, and manufacture of guns and ammunition and parts for the military.

“(They) knew well beforehand that the AFP had no technical capability to fit the said chrome-plated barrel on the said M-16 rifles due to lack of necessary equipment,” the graft charge said.

Carreon said the purchased items were useless and ineffective to rehabilitate or repair rifles, thus, the accused entered into a contract that is manifestly and grossly disadvantageous to the government.

BFAD head charged with graft

In another graft case, Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) Director Leticia Barbara Gutierrez and five other employees are facing graft charges for awarding a contract without the required bidding.

The other accused were identified as Jesusa Joyce Cirunay, Leonida Castillo, Marle Koffa, Nemia Getes and Emilio Polig Jr., all members of the BFAD–Bids and Awards Committee (BAC).

Office of the Ombudsman Graft Investigation and Prosecution Officer II Cherry Bautista-Bolo also recommended P30,000 bail for each of the accused.

The graft charge stemmed from the illegal issuance of a resolution dated July 10, 2003 “making it appear that Gakken Corp. (private supplier) was awarded contract to supply three units of LCD projector worth P297,000 in view of an alleged failure of bidding when in truth and in fact, Linkworth International Inc. won the bid conducted on Nov. 14, 2002 as shown by the Notice of Award issued in the latter’s favor on July 16, 2003.”

Records also showed that Linkworth complied with required specifications – LCD projector, 1000 ANSI Lumens, SVGA, Matrix System, SLIU, intelligent room illuminator sensor, 30”x300” picture size cineview.

But the accused disregarded the Notice of Award and gave the contract to Gakken, despite non-compliance with products specifications.   – Sandy Araneta