THE Office of the Ombudsman has asked the Sandiganbayan to file a case against former Commission on Elections chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. and Cebu Rep. Rodrigo Abellanosa.
Abalos is facing graft cases for violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act in connection with the alleged anomalous purchase of vehicles during his stint at the poll body and was asked to post P30,000 bail for one count of graft for his temporary liberty.
Abellanosa, for his part, was charged with one count of graft for allegedly entering a scholarship program deal sponsored by the local government for a school he purportedly used to head.
The prosecution recommended P30,000 bail for the temporary liberty of Abellanosa.
Based on the information sheet of the Ombudsman, the Comelec bought on June 11, 2003 two Toyota Revo VX 200 at Toyota Pasong Tamo Inc., worth P1.7 million where Abalos was the chief of the poll body’s Procuring Entity.
The Ombudsman said Tuesday there was no public bidding in the transaction and the mode of procurement was done through “canvassing/shopping” which is in violation of the RA No. 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act.
Abellanosa was then a member of the Sangguniang Panglungsod of Cebu when the alleged incident happened, the Ombudsman said.
Investigations showed Abellanosa was among those whose approved City Resolution 12-2255-2011 giving authority to the mayor to enter, with the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) at the Asian College of Technology International Educational Foundation, for the scholarship program to be funded by the government.
Apart from being a member of Sangguniang Panglunsod, the Office of the Ombudsman said Abellanosa was allegedly serving as trustee-president of the ACTIEF.
At least P51 million worth of scholarship fund or scholarship was extended to ACTIEF, the Ombudsman said.