The Ombudsman has approved the filing of graft charges against Lapu-Lapu Rep. Arturo Radaza and 19 others for the purchase of allegedly overpriced, inferior personal computers worth P23.5 million six years ago.
It said Radaza, who was Lapu-Lapu mayor when the computers were bought, conspired with public officials and the supplier to buy the computers for public and private schools at excessive prices in 2005.
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales approved the charge sheet against Radaza,; City Schools Superintendent Serena Uy; former Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) Chair Vincent Joseph Lim; current BAC Chair Teodulo Ybanez; BAC Vice Chair Fernando Tagaan, Jr.; and BAC members Michael Dignos, Victoria Andoy and Elena Pacaldo.
Also recommended charges were Technical Working Group (TWG) Head Rogelio Veloso; TWG members Cipriano Flores, Sharon Baguio, Buenaventura Igot, Jerico Mercado and Maribeth Sorono; Administrative Aide Marita Guiao of the Procurement Section; Inspection Committee members Cleofe Solis, Leandro Dante, Ernesto Imbong and Rogaciano Tampus; Kein Enterprises Manager and owner Jennet Valencia.
The charges would be filed at the Sandiganbayan. The Ombudsman recommended bail of P30,000 each.
In a statement, the Ombudsman said the case stemmed from the complaint filed by Coralpoint Educational Foundation Inc.. which alleged that the amount paid by government for the 470 computers for national and public high schools was too high.
It said Radaza approved the request of the Department of Education’s Lapu Lapu Division to buy the computers. Kein Enterprises got the contract to supply the computers for P49,950 per unit.
But the Ombudsman Visayas found something amiss in the purchase. It said the items that Kein Enterprises delivered were inferior to those specified by the contract.
It also found that the market price for computers with the same specifications was only P23,100 per unit. The 470 computers should have cost P10.857 million instead of P23.476 million, a price difference of P12.619 million.