THE Commission on Audit has affirmed the liability of former municipal government officials of Sual, Pangasinan in connection with a P3.9 million disallowed procurement marred by irregularities.
The audit agency denied the petition for review filed by former mayor Robert Arcinue, Bids and Awards Committee chairman Rodrigo Benito, BAC members Prescila Ramos, Florencia Guanzon, Ma. Lourdes Sabido, and Pacinate Sison, Technical Working Group member Kent Sabido, municipal accountant Diana Tabar, and supplier Legacy Trend Garment Manufacturer.
They had sought lifting of the notice of disallowance issued in 2017 against the payment made to Legacy Trend for the delivery of school uniforms and drum and lyre costumes for the Sual National High School and Sual District in 2016.
Appellants said the disallowance was unnecessary since there was complete delivery of the items purchased.
Likewise, they contested the finding that the transaction falls under irregular, unnecessary, extravagant, excessive and unconscionable (IUEEU) expenditures since there was an ordinance approving the procurement of the uniforms and costumes.
The local officials also argued that the supplier was not a pre-selected bidder since it was in fact the only bidder and had been in good standing with the municipal government as attested to by its fulfilment of previous contracts.
However, the COA upheld the validity of the notices of disallowance.
“In this case, several days prior to the receipt and opening of bids, evaluation of bids, post-qualification, and award of the contract, …delivery of the school uniforms and drum and lyre costumes were already made by LTGM and accepted by the end-users,” the commission pointed out.
Without a competitive bidding, it said the transaction violated RA 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act and its Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations.
Moreover, auditors found that there was no submission of complete documentation for bidding, contract, and payment.
“In view of the violation of the procurement law and other noted deviations, this case shall be referred to the Office of the Ombudsman for investigation and filing of appropriate charges, if warranted, against the persons responsible for the transactions,” the COA added.
