OMBUDSMAN Conchita Carpio Morales indicted on Wednesday the president of the Tawi-Tawi Regional Agricultural College for the supposedly illegal disbursement of public funds amounting to P8.6 million in 2006 to 2008.
Asady Hussin, TRAC president, was ordered charged with 21 counts of malversation and 21 counts of violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, or Republic Act 3019 before the Sandiganbayan.
Also included in the graft and malversation charges were professors Berma Omarali for 13 counts each, Mernalyn Isa for seven counts each and Sahajim Hassan for one count each.
Based on investigation, all the 21 checks totaling to P8,623,930.00 were all converted to cash by the respondents, who claimed that payments were made to contractors and suppliers.
Husin, Omarali and Isa said the funds were used for procurement of computer units, agricultural inputs and improvement, classroom renovation, and payment of salaries.
“The basic requirements in disbursement of public funds were not complied with because not one of the checks was issued under a valid disbursement voucher duly supported with purchase request, purchase order or contract, delivery receipt, and inspection and acceptance report,” the decision read.
Meanwhile, the Ombudsman filed graft raps against former Siayan mayor Wilfredo Siasico of Zamboanga del Norte in connection with the illegal acquisition of a brand-new bulldozer worth P15,892,500 in 2008.
In a complaint filed by the Commission on Audit, Siasico unilaterally undertook,without the aid of the bids and awards committee the direct purchase of one bulldozer from Monark Equipment Corp. without a public bidding and publication.
“As the local chief executive, Siasico is not only expected to know the procedure in procurement, but most importantly, obliged to follow it,” the resolution read.
“It was without regard to the high position [Siasico] occupied which imposed him with great responsibilities and obliged him to be more circumspect in the discharge of his duties. As a result of his deliberate unlawful action, the Municipality was deprived of the opportunity to acquire the best possible product at the most reasonable price which could have been achieved had a competitive bidding been conducted.”