A former mayor in Zamboanga del Norte is facing falsification of public documents before the Sandiganbayan for bidding irregularities.
The Office of the Ombudsman filed the suit against former mayor Wilfredo Balais and former vice mayor Virgilio Go of Labason town for violation of Article 171 of the Revised Penal Code over the procurement of a Nissan Patrol wagon in 2011.
Also named co-accused were the former bids and awards committee chairman Melchor Chipoco; members Christy Buganutan, Philip Balais, Aida Villamil and Ceriaco Sabijon, and secretariat Glenda Eslabon.
Additional charges for violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act or Republic Act No. 3019 were filed against Chipoco, Buganutan, Eslabon, Philip Balais, Villamil, Sabijon and Thelma Antoque.
On Jan. 28, 2011, the municipality through Go acquired a second-hand 2001 Nissan Patrol wagon from Eduardo Ayunting of the Oro Cars Display Center worth P960,000.
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.
According to the Ombudsman, the vehicle procured by respondents was the same vehicle sold by Balais to Ayunting for only P500,000 under a deed of sale on Nov. 26, 2010.
“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,”the Ombudsman's resolution read.
In a related administrative case, Philip Balais and Sabijon were dismissed from the service for conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, grave misconduct and serious dishonesty.