Drilon accuser faces graft case over purchase of laptop computer

ILOILO CITY, Philippines—Former Iloilo provincial administrator Manuel “Boy” Mejorada, who has accused Senate President Franklin Drilon and other top officials of graft, is now facing a graft complaint before the Ombudsman for irregularities in the purchase of a laptop computer when he was still Iloilo provincial administrator in 2008.

In a two-page order dated Nov. 14, the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas directed Mejorada and six other respondents to submit their counter-affidavits to a complaint for violation of Republic Act 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act).

Former Iloilo provincial administrator Manuel Mejorada. NOY MORCOSO/INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

The six others were Ramie Salcedo (property officer), Danny Baldemor (inspection officer), Rosarie San Luiz (end user representative), Patricia Grace Trabado (acting provincial nutrition action officer), Edgar Piansay (inspection officer and member of the bids and awards committee).

Also named respondent was Cristina Te, owner of The Seven-Seven Trading, the supplier.

The order was based on a complaint filed by the agency’s Field Investigation Office (FIO), which found enough basis to proceed with preliminary adjudication in relation to the purchase of a laptop computer of the provincial government costing P99,000.

Mejorada said he would not comment until receiving a copy of the order and complaint.

In its complaint, the FIO cited results of the 2008 annual audit report of the Commission on Audit (COA) showing that the laptop delivered to the provincial government on Feb. 6, 2008 was not the one covered by a purchase order and cost less by P39,100.

The purchase order covered an Acer Aspire 5920G-302G16N costing P99,000, which was intended for the provincial health office. But what was delivered and accepted by the respondents was an Acer Travel Mate 6292-10161M1 priced at P59,900.

Electroworld Inc., the computer store where the laptop was purchased, had explained that the Acer Aspire 5920G-302G16N had already been phased out.

On Oct. 13, 2011, the supplier, The Seven-Seven Trading, which acted as a middleman, refunded the paid amount of P83,796.42 which the COA had disallowed.

The audit report also noted that there was no competitive public bidding for the purchase and had reminded the bids and awards committee to stop the practice of accepting middlemen in the procurement of items.

The FIO said in its complaint that the respondents were liable for partiality, bad faith or “gross inexcusable negligence” when they accepted the item which was of different specification as the one covered by the purchase order.

It said the transaction gave the supplier “unwarranted preference, benefits or advantage at the expense of the government.”