A PROVINCIAL official of Surigao del Norte yesterday filed two separate criminal complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman against former governor Francisco Matugas on allegations of alleged unlawful diversion of calamity funds and pushing for the donation of provincial government assets to political supporters or family members.
Complainant Oscar Pospia Jr., head of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) and chief of staff of incumbent Gov. Robert Lyndon Barbers, sought Matugas’ indictment for plunder, technical malversation, and violations of RA 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and RA 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act.
In the first complaint, Matugas was named the sole respondent concerning alleged unlawful donation of 45 motor vehicles and laptops owned by the province to different recipients supposedly after losing in his reelection bid.
“After losing the May 9, 2022 gubernatorial election… Atty. Matugas disposed of several properties and other assets of the provincial government. It is worth noting that the recipients of the subject properties are either a political ally, supporter, or family member of Atty. Matugas,” the complainant said.
The disposal of the motor vehicles left the provincial government with only 81 service vehicles, of which only 66 are serviceable while 15 are listed as no longer operational.
As a result, Pospia said at least 16 provincial offices, departments, and facilities were left without a single vehicle in performing their functions and services.
Among the provincial offices affected, he listed the Legal Office, the Employment and Manpower Office, Cooperative Development Office, Civil Security Unit, Tourism Office, Environment and Management Office, Internal Audit Office, Human Resource and Development Office, Secretary to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Provincial Administrator’s Office, Budget Office, Planning and Development Office, Accounting Office, Social Welfare and Development Office, Agriculture Office, and the Veterinary Office.
“Rather than giving priority to the provincial offices, departments, and facilities that are seriously in need of service vehicles, Atty. Matugas with malice aforethought donated valuable and beneficial assets belonging to the provincial government,” Pospia added.
Also questioned was the donation of the Tourism Lounge and Tourism Building owned by the provincial government to the municipality of General Luna under its former mayor Cecilia Rusillon.
The complainant noted that Rusillon was succeeded by Mayor Sol F. Matugas, wife of the respondent former governor.
In the second complaint, Pospia named 12 other individuals as co-respondents of Matugas in connection with the alleged use of P90 million provincial government funds in procurement transactions that allegedly favored certain suppliers.
Among those implicated were former provincial accountant Ma. Myrla Padayhag, Schools Division Superintendent (SDS) for Siargao Nelia Lomocso, SDS for Surigal del Norte Ma. Teresa Real, accountant for the Department of Education-Siargao Division Maricris Sulapas, accountant for Dep-Ed-Surigao del Norte Division Juliet Dumaguit, and DepEd Surigao del Norte-Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) officers Harem Taruc, Dominico Larong Jr., Joselito Manongas, Felisa Cordova, Lucila Into, and Azucena Simbol.
Named private respondent was Jessie Garcia, president of private supplier Merryland Publishing Corp. and B2G2 Enterprises Inc.
Pospia said that without securing the required approval of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Matugas executed several memoranda of agreement with the DepEd officials from March 10 to 24, 2022 for the procurement of instructional materials funded by the provincial government.
“According to records, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan did not pass a resolution authorizing Atty. Matugas to do so. While the Provincial Governor… has the authority to grant financial assistance to national line agencies, such as the Department of Education, it is only lawful if there is an appropriated amount for that particular purpose,” he pointed out.
The complainant said of the total P90 million earmarked for the procurement, P20 million was drawn from funds of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO).
The sum was intended for the reproduction of Disaster Risk Reduction- Climate Change Adaptation (DRR-CCA) learning materials.
On the other hand, Pospia said the P70 million balance was not backed by any appropriation ordinance or an Approved Annual Procurement Plan for financial assistance to DepEd.
The complainant noted that the province sustained widespread damage from Typhoon Odette which struck in December 2021, just a few months before the realignment of funds.
“The assistance that the people of Surigao del Norte extremely needed are basic necessities, such as food provision, shelter, clothing, not the multimillion worth of story book,” Pospia said.
While SDS for Surigao City Division Karen Galanida agreed with the appeal of the new administration to prioritize the repair of school buildings over the purchase of story books, the other school division superintendents decided otherwise.
Pospia said the respondents’ actions showed conspiracy from the transfer of funds to the procurement of storybooks from “a favored supplier.
