InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5
MANILA, Philippines - Zamboanga del Sur Rep. Aurora Enerio-Cerilles has been charged with graft before the Sandiganbayan for allegedly defrauding the government of nearly P7 million in the purchase of overpriced medical supplies in 2001.
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales ordered the filing of charges on Wednesday after reviewing evidence that included documents from the Commission on Audit (COA).
COA found out that P6.879 million worth of medical supplies were solely procured from U-Net Distributors Corporation.
In her indictment, Morales upheld the finding of irregularity in the transaction because the respondents allegedly did not follow the procurement procedure and that the government could have saved P1.204 million if the procurement underwent public bidding.
“There is reason to believe that [they] had unlawfully allowed the direct purchase of medicine supplies from U-Net Distributors Corporation despite knowing that the situation does not call for such kind of purchase and notwithstanding that the documents supporting the identity of the said distributor as an exclusive distributor are questionable,” she said.
Also included in the charge-sheet were Marina Tudio-Tampus, then the provincial accountant officer-in-charge (OIC); Estita Tago, OIC provincial budget officer; Malaya Ysmael, OIC general services officer; Corazon Silla-Ariosa, chief the of Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Hospital. They were all members of the province's Bids and Awards committee.
Private respondents include Rey Morgada and Neil Cruz, who acted as representatives of U-Net Distributors.
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