THE Office of the Ombudsman on Friday ordered the filing of graft raps against six Budget Department officials for the purchase of substandard inflatable rubber boats in 2010.
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales said Undersecretary Evelyn Guerrero, director IV Lourdes Santiago, procurement management officer V Julieta Lozano, procurement management officer III Mervin Ian Tanquintic, administrative assistant III Alvin John Perater, and ad hoc member Lt. Malone Agudelo had violated the anti-graft law.
She also charged Anthony Hernandez of JOAVI Philippines Corp., saying his firm failed to comply with the government’s technical specifications.
The Ombudsman said the rubber boats were not equipped with intercommunication or inflation valves, over-pressure valves and roll-up floor.
The boats were designed as sports models and not military models, and JOAVI submitted falsified technical evaluation and post-qualification reports, the Ombudsman said.