The Office of the Ombudsman has found probable cause to charge former Mayor Betty Allado of Banisilan, Cotabato, with violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act No. 3019) for irregularities in the procurement of consultancy services in 2012. Also included as co-accused are members of the Bids and Awards Committee, Jaime Alisasis, Ramil Jayma, Marietta Nonan, Ramon Capanang, Carmencita Bari, Andres Serue, Raymond Franco, Jornalito Allado, Hilario Cabangon. Noel Bryan Tuling, manager of JK Engineering and Design and Consultancy Services was also included in the indictment before the Sandiganbayan.
In 2012, the municipality of Banisilan became the beneficiary of the “Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig sa Lahat” program of the national government and was granted P7million for its implementation. Allado, et. al. facilitated the procurement of consultancy services for the water project. However, respondents failed to present proof that they complied with the requirements of the Government Procurement Reform Act. Bidding irregularities such as non-posting of the invitation to bid, discrepancies regarding the dates of opening of bids and deliberation of BAC, and a deficient invitation to bid were noted by Ombudsman investigators. The consultancy services project was awarded to JK Engineering.
In its Resolution, the Ombudsman stated that “the foregoing contradictions prove that no competitive bidding transpired in the procurement of consultancy services.”
Section 3(e) of R.A. No. 3019 provides that it shall be unlawful for public officials to cause any undue injury to any party, including the Government, or giving any private party any unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference in the discharge of his official administrative or judicial functions through manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence. ###