Ex-Sarangani governor, 6 others charged with graft

The Office of the Ombudsman has filed graft charges against former Sarangani Governor Miguel Escobar and six other provincial officials for the questionable purchase of 30,000 textbooks without public bidding.

Escobar was charged for approving two textbook purchases, involving 15,000 books for each transaction, in 2002 and 2003.

Charged with Escobar for the first purchase was Provincial Social Welfare Development Officer Hermelo Latoja, who acted as the attorney in fact for textbook supplier Institute for Youth Volunteers Service and Early Childhood Development Inc.

For the second purchase, charged along with Escobar and Latoja were Committee on Awards members Teresa Alvarado, Wahid Diama, Sittiehawa Marohomsalic, Cesar Cagang and Vivencia Telesforo.

The Sarangani officials have denied the allegations against them in their respective counteraffidavits.

Sarangani province first bought 15,000 copies of the textbook ABC My Practice Book I in November 2002 for P1.5 million, and bought 15,000 copies of ABC My Practice Book II in June 2003.

The 2002 transaction was considered an emergency purchase, which was why the textbooks were bought directly from the supplier.

But Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales said the emergency purchase was unjustified.