The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the dismissal of five officials of the Sulu State College for multiple irregularities in the procurement of laboratory equipment worth P22 million.
The school’s president, Abdurasa Sariol Arasid, then bids and awards committee chairperson Hja Ferwina Jikiri Amilhamja, and committee members Anang Agang Hawang, Nenita Aguil and Audie Janea were found guilty of grave misconduct.
The penalty of dismissal from the service carries the accessory penalties of perpetual disqualification from holding public office, forfeiture of retirement benefits, bar from taking the civil service examination, and cancellation of civil service eligibility.
The Ombudsman also found probable cause to indict the respondents and another committee member, Joseph Pescadera, for violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act or Republic Act No. 3019.
On May 30, 2011, the university entered into a contract with State Alliance Enterprises Inc. for the acquisition of equipment for its physics, computer engineering and agriculture laboratories.
Upon audit, the Commission on Audit in Sulu province observed there was no publication of the invitation to bid in a newspaper of general circulation, and that the supplier tendered a bid in excess of the approved budget for the contract.
CoA said bidding was undertaken despite the absence of certification of availability of funds, citing lack of procurement documents, such as the bidding documents, bid security and abstract of bids.
On June 15, 2015, the CoA issued a notice of disallowance for the transaction.
“The purchase of the equipment reeks of violations, not only of the procurement law, but of other laws as well. The flawed process deprived the SSC of a competitive bidding that would have extended equal opportunity to enable other contracting parties who are eligible and qualified to participate in public bidding,” the resolution read.