Leonardia, et. al. face graft raps anew
BACOLOD CITY – City Mayor Evelio Leonardia and other city officials are again facing graft charges in the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas relative to the procurement of 1,000 pieces of collegiate armchairs worth P950,000.
Complainant Sarah Esguerra and Othello Ramos of Brgy. 12 and Grandville Subdivision, Bacolod City, respectively, filed a criminal and administrative complaint for gross violation of the Anti-Graft & Corrupt Practices Act (R.A. 3019, as amended) particularly, but not limited to Section 3 (e) thereof and for violation of Republic Act No. 9184, Section 53 and other related violations of the Anti-Graft Law in the criminal aspect and for Dishonesty, Abuse of Authority, Grave Misconduct and Acts Prejudicial to Public Service on the administrative side.
Esguerra and Ramos are the same persons who filed cases in the Ombudsman against Leonardia and other city officials with regard to the alleged overpriced acquisition of the Felisa dumpsite property.
Aside from Leonardia and Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson, others included in the complaint were Bids and Awards Committee Chairman Atty. Goldwyn Nifras, City Legal Officer Atty. Allan Zamora, City Administrator Dr. Rogelio Balo, City Planning Officer Arch. Lemuel Reynaldo, Asst. General Service Officer Nelson Sedillo Sr., City Accountant Eduardo Ravena, BAC Secretariat Melvin Recabar and Supplier Nick Varca of Varceni Engineering and Industrial Supply.
Complainants alleged that on July 1, 2008, Bids and Awards Committee received a purchase request from Dr. Balo for the procurement of 1,000 pcs. of study armchairs for Bacolod City College pushing for a negotiated procurement.
Complainants alleged that the negotiated purchase is irregular because the procurement does not fall squarely under the case of imminent danger to life and property for there was no state of calamity or other causes.
On the other hand, City Legal Officer Atty. Allan Zamora said that there is no problem with the procurement because what the complainant was referring to is the "emergency purchase" and it is different from the negotiated purchase as a mode of procurement.
Complainant alleged that on July 3, 2008, Dr. Balo signed a purchase request for the said armchairs. They also alleged that the estimated cost and quantity is apparently a "tailor-made" from the letter of Intent and Quotation of Varceni Engineering and Industrial Supply because the PR itself did not specify the kind of wood to be used and it did not indicate the size,dimension, measurement and thickness of the lumber that will be used in making the study of the armchairs.
Said purchase request was signed by Dr. Balo and Vice Mayor Sayson who was also impleaded in the complaint.
Complainants also believes that the procurement of 1,000 pcs. of study armchairs for Bacolod City College cannot in any manner validate the requirement of a negotiated procurement.
They also questioned the supplier Nick Varca of Varceni Engineering because they used a gemilina wood, an inferior kind of lumber, akin to that of the coconut lumber, instead of utilizing hardwood lumbers like the mahogany and the lawaan.