The Department of the Interior and Local Government has implemented the suspension order against local officials of Biliran who were found liable for irregularities that attended the 2010 procurement of medicines. Based on the suspension order issued by the Ombudsman, Caibiran Mayor Eulalio Maderazo, Loreto Serdeña, Jr. (municipal treasurer) and Rodolfo Baguna (municipal accountant) were found guilty of Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service and ordered suspended without pay for nine months.
In its Decision, the Ombudsman found that Maderazo, et. al. ordered the procurement of medicines worth P283,335.15 via the alternative method of shopping without passing through its Bids and Awards Committee. As certified by the BAC secretariat, “there was no bidding held by the BAC covering the period 02 January 2010 to 31 August 2010.”
According to the Ombudsman, “there is Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service where the efficiency, integrity and credibility of the civil service or of the administration of justice are adversely affected.”
In the event the penalty of suspension can no longer be enforced due to respondents’ separation from the service, the penalty is convertible to a fine equivalent to respondent’s six-month salary. ###