MANILA — The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the filing of charges before the Sandiganbayan against former Labason, Zamboanga del Norte Mayor Wilfredo Balais and Vice Mayor Virgilio Go for falsification of public documents over the alleged irregularities in the 2011 procurement of a Nissan Patrol Wagon.
Likewise charged were Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) Chairman Melchor Chipoco; BAC members Christy Buganutan, Philip Balais, Aida Villamil, Ceriaco Sabijon; BAC Secretariat Glenda Eslabon. and a certain Thelma Antoque.
Charges for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act were filed against Chipoco, Buganutan, Eslabon, Philip Balais, Villamil, Sabijon, and Antoque.
Records showed that on Jan. 28, 2011, the municipality, through the then Vice Mayor Go, acquired a second-hand 2001 Nissan Patrol Wagon from Eduardo Ayunting of the Oro Cars Display Center worth PHP960,000.
A review of the bidding documents showed fraud in the procurement of the vehicle, as bid documents, such as the Abstract of Bids and Minutes of the opening of bids, were falsified to make it appear that two other bidders joined the bidding.
The probe also found that the vehicle procured by the respondents was the same vehicle sold by the then Mayor Balais to Ayunting for only PHP500,000 under a deed of sale dated Nov. 26, 2010.
In its resolution, the Ombudsman said: “It cannot be denied that the above-named respondents have control over the documents in their respective capacities and signed these documents even when they contained utter falsities. In their effort to come up with an impression of regularity, they made it appear that bidders, including the alleged winning bidder, participated in the procurement of the vehicle when in fact these bidders did not. Clearly, the elements of the offense attend this case.”
Meanwhile, in the related administrative case, Philip Balais and Sabijon, who were found guilty of conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, grave misconduct, and serious dishonesty, were ordered dismissed from the service.
Balais and Sabijon were also meted with the accessory penalties of perpetual disqualification from holding public office, cancellation of eligibility, and forfeiture of retirement benefits.
In case of separation from the service, the penalty is convertible to a fine equivalent to the respondents’ salaries for one year. (Perfecto Raymundo, Jr./PNA)
