The Office of the Ombudsman found Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) acting President Jose Roy III and Vice-President for Finance and Planning Angelita Solis guilty of Grave Misconduct and ordered them dismissed from the service. Also ordered dismissed from the service are Cecilia Calma, Angeles Ramos, Eloisa Macalinao, Felix Aspiras and Albert Dela Cruz, all from PLM.
Roy, et. al. were meted the accessory penalties of perpetual disqualification from holding public office and forfeiture of retirement benefits. In the event that the dismissal can no longer be enforced, the same shall be converted into a fine equivalent to respondent’s one year salary.
The dismissal order stemmed from the illegal procurement of a Hyundai Starex van worth P1.1 million in 2006. In its Decision, the Ombudsman found that no public bidding was conducted by university officials. Instead, they unlawfully resorted to Direct Contracting as a mode of procurement.
The Commission on Audit issued a Notice of Suspension citing non-compliance with procurement regulations and the lack of the university’s annual procurement plan.
As defense, respondents’ claimed that the “decision to resort to direct contracting stemmed from the urgency of the end-user’s need.”
The Decision stated that “respondents deliberately disregarded the requirements of R.A. 9184 (Government Procurement Reform Act) to favor and give benefits to the dealer of Hyundai Starex van.” ###