News and UpdatesIn the NewsOmbuds absolves Guihulngan officials

Ombuds absolves Guihulngan officials

-

- Advertisment -spot_img

Ombudsman Samuel Martires has reversed the dismissal order issued in November 2014 against then Guihulngan City Mayor Ernesto Reyes and seven other City employees for Grave Misconduct.

Cleared in the eight-page Order dated Dec. 17, 2018, which was received by the Respondents only last Friday, were Bids and Awards Committee Chair Remegio Sitones, BAC members Harlan Senas, Jesus Deposa, Pacifico Bulad, Jr., Harold Indab, BAC Secretariat head Selfa Cadorna, and BAC Technical Working Group member Jason Santos.

The Dismissal Order of Mayor Ernesto Reyes, however, was extinguished and dismissed due to the Aguinaldo Doctrine, following his re-election as Mayor of Guihulngan in 2010.

They were earlier ordered dismissed by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales for the purchase of vehicles and heavy equipment and the rehabilitation of city streets which the Ombudsman Investigating Committee said was in violation with provisions of Republic Act 9184, or the Procurement Law.

The Ombudsman said that there was no item in the City’s Appropriation Ordinance (and subsequent supplemental ones and a bank loan) for the projects and programs of the City in 2008. But in reversing the decision, the Ombudsman said the BAC could not be faulted for presuming that these appropriation ordinances were valid.

The Ombudsman also faulted the BAC for recommending for the purchase of the vehicles through Direct Contracting, an alternative mode of procurement. The Ombudsman said there was lack of substantial evidence to convict the respondents.

As to the rehabilitation of city streets, the contractor cemented the roads even though the approved budget, program of work and detailed estimates of the project was only for the asphalting of the roads.

In dismissing the case, the Ombudsman said the winning bidder, Uy ConDev, took the risk of proceeding with the project to take advantage of the good weather conditions and gave a 100 percent completion.

The Ombudsman also accepted the defense of good faith of the BAC in the purchase of heavy equipment. (AP)

(Back to MetroPost HOME PAGE)


 

 

Latest news

City budget is dead  — Dgte Council

    Perdices resigns as Finance Committee chair “The Motion raised by Councilor Baldado for the approval of the 2025 annual...

Comelec to put LGUs  in ‘yellow’ alert

    Majority of the cities and municipalities in Negros Oriental are likely to be placed under ‘yellow’ category for the...

Who wins?

    The City Council’s Friday special session was meant to be about one matter: approving the 2025 annual budget of...

Canlaon completes P12M infra

    despite eruption The local government of Canlaon City turned over this week more than P12 million worth of infrastructure projects...
- Advertisement -spot_imgspot_img

Coop budgets P9M for CSR

    The Perpetual Help Community Cooperative, Inc. has lined up projects this year for its community development program in Negros...

PNP augments force for May polls

    The first batch of augmentation force from the Philippine National Police that will assist in disaster response, and perform...

Must read

City budget is dead  — Dgte Council

    Perdices resigns as Finance Committee chair “The Motion raised by...

Comelec to put LGUs  in ‘yellow’ alert

    Majority of the cities and municipalities in Negros Oriental...
- Advertisement -spot_imgspot_img

You might also likeRELATED
Recommended to you