Four local executives of San Francisco, Agusan Del Sur, are facing charges for violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for the anomalous procurement of a generator set in 2004. Ordered indicted before the Sandiganbayan are Mayor Jenny De Asis, Municipal Engineer Cesar Yu, Supply Officer Jovito Torrero and Municipal Accountant Evelyn Damasco.
Investigation revealed that De Asis approved the purchase request for a Komatsu generator set in February 2004 to be used as standby power source for the municipality. Three price quotations were secured, with RAS Heavy Equipment from Quezon City submitting the lowest price of P760,000.00.
Upon audit, the Commission on Audit observed several procurement violations such as lack of competitive bidding, overpricing, and payment in cash instead of check.
According to the Resolution, “competitive bidding being the standard mode of procurement for all procuring entities in the government, the approval or disapproval of all contracts of award rests on the Head of the Procuring Entity (HOPE).”
As for De Asis, “as the municipality’s HOPE, it was her duty to insure that all procurement activities in the local government unit were undertaken in full compliance of the law,” the Resolution explained. ###