Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales has found probable cause to charge Bohol Island State University (BISU) President Elpidio Magante, Director Lorenzo Sarigumba, Dean Ambrosio Orillos and Instructor Alan Jaum for violation of the Government Procurement Reform Act (Republic Act No. 9184) and Falsification of Public Documents (Article 171, Revised Penal Code) before the Sandiganbayan. They face trial for splitting procurement projects and unlawfully resorting to Shopping to buy a mini dump truck costing P402,800.00 in 2009.
In a complaint filed by the Commission on Audit, the university officials were shown to have split the procurement into two projects to avoid the requirement of public bidding.
“Shopping was illegally resorted to by splitting of contracts for the purpose of evading or circumventing the requirements of R.A. No. 9184. [T]he two purported sets of transactions allegedly intended for assembling mini dump truck were only scheme for the acquisition of one unit mini dump truck,” the Resolution underscored
The Ombudsman also found Magante, et al. guilty of Grave Misconduct and imposed upon them the penalty of dismissal along with its accessory penalties of cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, perpetual disqualification from holding public office, and prohibition on taking the civil service examination. The Ombudsman has directed the BISU Board of Regents and the Commission on Higher Education to immediately implement the administrative sanctions. ###