The Office of the Ombudsman ordered the dismissal from the service of five officials of the Sulu State College (SSC) after uncovering multiple irregularities in the procurement of laboratory equipment worth P22 million.
Found guilty of Grave Misconduct are SSC President Abdurasa Sariol Arasid, Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) Chairperson Hja Ferwina Jikiri Amilhamja, and BAC members Anang Agang Hawang, Nenita Aguil and Audie Janea.
The penalty of dismissal from the service carries the accessory penalties of perpetual disqualification from holding public office, forfeiture of retirement benefits, bar from taking the civil service examination, and cancellation of civil service eligibility.
In the related criminal case, the Office of the Ombudsman also found probable cause to indict the respondents and BAC member Joseph Pescadera for violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act No. 3019).
Investigation found that on 30 May 2011, the SSC entered into a contract with State Alliance Enterprises, Inc. for the acquisition of equipment for its physics, computer engineering and agriculture laboratories.
Upon audit, the Commission on Audit (COA) – Sulu Province observed that there was no publication of the invitation to bid in a newspaper of general circulation; the supplier tendered a bid in excess of the Approved Budget for the Contract; bidding was undertaken despite the absence of certification of availability of funds; and lack of procurement documents such as the bidding documents, bid security and abstract of bids.
Consequently, on 15 June 2015, the COA issued a Notice of Disallowance for the transaction.
In the Ombudsman Decision, it stated that “the purchase of the equipment reeks of violations, not only of the procurement law, but of other laws as well. The flawed process deprived the SSC of a competitive bidding that would have extended equal opportunity to enable other contracting parties who are eligible and qualified to participate in public bidding.” ###