The Ombudsman has filed a graft case against a former mayor of Aglipay, Quirino over the alleged unlawful purchase of agricultural equipment worth P2.79 million.
The Ombudsman’s special panel for the fertilizer fund scam filed the case against former mayor Leonard Martin Sr. at the Sandiganyan for one count of violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
Others charged with Martin are former municipal treasurer Maritoni Eustaqio, municipal accountant’s office officer-in-charge Gilvern Manzano, municipal supply officer Reynante Pastor, Agri-Component Corp. representative Elpideo Colobong Jr., and AGRICOMP head Elmer Baquiran.
A bail of P30,000 has been recommended for each of the accused.
In a related development:
• The Ombudsman filed one count of graft before Sandiganbayan against former Tanay, Rizal Mayor Tomas Ricardo Tanjuatco, former members of the municipality’s Bids and Awards Committee Adorable Sunga, Godofredo Mariano, Nenita Vines, Yolanda Reyes, and Ruben Pendre in connection with the alleged fertilizer fund scam and recommended P30,000 bail each for their temporary liberty.
The prosecution said Tanjuatco and his co-accused allegedly acted “with manifest partiality, evident bad faith, or gross inexcusable negligence” in giving the contract to Feshan Philippines Inc. through direct contracting instead of public bidding for the purchase of 1,333 bottles of Bio Nature Liquid Organic Fertilizer worth P1.95 million in 2004.
Ombudsman prosecutors alleged that between May 2004 and June 2006, Martin and his co-accused public officials conspired to enter into a contract with AGRICOMP through direct contracting.
AGRICOMP bagged the contract is for supply of one Kubota Tractor 4WD Model 90000DT worth P2.09 million, one AGRICOMP Harrow Model 10×10 frame worth P180,000, two dumping trailer double tires at P220,000 each, a Multi Crop Thresher worth P121,000 and one set of maintenance tools valued at P59,000. Mariced V. Cruz
The Ombudsman claimed no public bidding was conducted for the contract as the Government Procurement Reform Act mandates.
In addition, Martin and his co-accused allegedly failed go through necessary steps in the conduct of direct contracting as provided under Volume 2 of the Manual of Procedures for the Procurement of Goods and Services, the Ombudsman claimed.
Graft investigators added that the respondent public officials facilitated the payment to AGRICOMP “despite the attendant irregularities in the procurement process, thereby causing undue injury to the Municipality of Aglipay, Quirino.”