THE Office of the Ombudsman on Monday upheld the indictment of former officials of the Department of Transportation and Communications for graft charges in connection with a questionable procurement and installation of EXS parts and expansion for the Iloilo toll center in 2006.
In a 10-page order, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales maintained the decision to file the charges against ex-DoTC- Telecommunications Office assistant secretary Lorenzo Formoso III and project manager II Arthur Ancheta.
Based on an investigation, Formoso and Ancheta exhibited manifest partiality when they resorted to direct contracting in the acquisition of an EXCEL switch worth P24,805,000 awarded to Advance Solutions Inc. (Advance).
The award was made without complying with the Government Procurement Reform Act and without Advance’s submission of an exclusive distributorship or licensing agreement exhibiting the supplier’s proprietary rights over the products.
In addition, the Ombudsman cited the irregularity and evident bad faith when Formoso and Ancheta pushed for the direct procurement of supplies from Advance without the participation of the bids and awards committee.