AFP to probe AFPMC procurement irregularity

Lt Col Harold “Harry” M Cabunoc (Inf) PA. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – After a complainant sued the hospital of the Philippine military for the misuse of funds at the Office of the Ombudsman, the Armed Forces of the Philippines on Monday said they would also launch an investigation on the matter.

Lieutenant Colonel Harold Cabunoc, AFP Public Affairs Office Chief, said the AFP would launch a parallel investigation with the Office of the Ombudsman on the complaint of a certain Renato Villafuerte.

Villafuerte filed a complaint of malversation of funds at the Office of the Ombudsman against Brigadier General Normando Sta. Ana, AFP Medical Center commander, and three others for violating the procedures in Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act of 2003 mandated.

“We fully trust our justice system and believe that the Office of the Ombudsman, along with our parallel investigation, can shed light on the veracity if this report,” Cabunoc said. “Rest assured that this investigation would be transparent.”

Included in Villafuerte’s complaint are Lieutenant Colonel Ritchi Capulong, Special Disbursing Officer, Major Neil Bugarin, Chief of Management and Fiscal Office, and Colonel Rogelio Del Rio, Acting Assistant Chief of Staff for Logistics.

According to Villafuerte’s complaint, Capulong, with the approval of Sta. Ana, spent P80-million from the allocated budget to purchase without going through the bidding process for the procurement of medicines and medical supplies from favored suppliers.

Also, the quartet requested the realignment of funds worth P40-million in support of Capulong’s cash advance to pay for debt accumulated through the procurement of medicine and medical equipment on account but without funds.

“We do not tolerate wrongdoing in our ranks because we believe that the public office is a public trust,” Cabunoc said.