Ombuds files criminal raps vs Bacolod mayor, 2 others

BACOLOD CITY  , Philippines  â€” The Office of the Ombudsman on Tuesday filed at the Sandiganbayan criminal charges against Bacolod Mayor Monico Puentevella and two others in connection with the “overpriced purchase” of computer packages using his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) when he was congressman.

Evangeline Nunal, graft investigating officer of the Ombudsman regional office in Western Visayas, confirmed late Wednesday the filing of the case against Puentevella, and Victorino Tirol Jr., former regional director of the DepEd-6, and Jessie Garcia, board chairman of Merryland Publishing Corp., supplier of the IT packages.

Nunal said the case is now with the Judicial Records Section of the Sandiganbayan, and will be raffled off in the First Division at 11 a.m. today.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, in an eight-page decision last Jan. 7, recommended the filing at the Sandiganbayan the charges against Puentevella, Tirol and Garcia. She also denied their motion for reconsideration and the reversal of the decision indicting them of the so-called “computer scam.”

The case involved the alleged anomalous procurement of computers worth more than P25 million using Puentevella’s PDAF from 2002 to 2006 when he was a congressman.

Puentevella, Tirol and Garcia were accused of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for the alleged overpriced purchase of IT packages in 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2006 for 54 public elementary schools and 29 secondary schools in the city, using Puentevella’s PDAF.

The IT package for elementary schools was worth P400,000 each, consisting of a computer unit, 50 compact discs, instructional materials and one-day seminar workshop. Those for secondary schools, also worth P400,000 each, consisted of two computer units, 80 CDs, instructional materials and one-day seminar.

The Ombudsman, in its Sept. 13, 2013, resolution, cited the Commission on Audit (COA) report that said P26 million was used to buy the IT packages, the price of which was deemed “exorbitant” and that Merryland was given “unwarranted” benefit due to lack of public bidding, in violation of Executive Order No. 40 and Republic Act 9182.

Private complainant Joselito Bayatan last week filed an omnibus motion to expedite the filing before the Sandiganbayan the petition for preventive suspension of Puentevella from office.

Puentevella, for his part, told The Freeman earlier: “I’m not bothered, worried, afraid, and I am ready to face the Sandiganbayan anytime.” He added that it is now high time that he faces the allegations against him and finally put an end to the controversy.

The mayor said the filing of the case against him is politically motivated, citing complainant Bayatan being identified with the camp of Bacolod Rep. Evelio Leonardia, a former mayor of Bacolod, who is Puentevella’s known political enemy.

“They simply want to prevent me from being re-elected by 2016 because they know my programs are being widely accepted by the people of Bacolod,” Puentevella added.  (FREEMAN)