The Office of the Ombudsman obtained the conviction of former Koronadal, South Cotabato Mayor Fernando Miguel after the Sandiganbayan found him guilty beyond reasonable doubt of violating Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act No. 3019). Miguel was found guilty of rigging the procurement of the architectural and engineering design and construction management of the public market in 1995.
Miguel was sentenced to imprisonment ranging from six years and one month as minimum, to ten years as maximum, and was perpetually disqualified from holding public office.
The records of the case show that in 1995, Miguel, then the Chairman of the Prequalification, Evaluation, and Awards Committee “orchestrated the scheme in making it appear that a bidding for consultancy services actually took place [through] fake copies of Taliba showing the invitation to bid and dubious or fabricated bid documents” to favor the contractor, INDEX. Ombudsman prosecutors established that the invitation to bid issued in July 1995 was fabricated and that Miguel used forged pre-qualification bid documents to award the contract to the favored contractor. It was also proved that the Sanggunian Bayan resolution for the project was secured only after contract award.
In a 22-page Decision, the Sandiganbayan stated that “[t]he truth was, accused Miguel had, from the very beginning favored only Nepomuceno and that all efforts were made so that the consultancy services will be awarded to the latter.”
The case against Gaspar Nepomuceno of INDEX, who remains at-large, was archived and the court also ordered the issuance of an alias warrant of arrest against him. ###