DepEd officials charged over anomalous cellphone purchases
Office of the Ombudsman. NOY MORCOSO/INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO
Three former officials of the Department of Education (DepEd) in Tagum City are set to face graft charges for the anomalous procurement of pricey cellphones.
In a statement Friday, Deputy Ombudsman for Mindanao Rodolfo Elman ordered the filing of graft information against former Schools Division Superintendent Aurora Cubero, Division Superintendent Salvacion Yumang and Administrative Officer Emma Betonio.
The graft charges stemmed from the alleged anomalous procurement of 32 cellphones worth P317,380 in 2007.
The Ombudsman said the respondents facilitated the procurement of the cellphones by shopping, saying the items were necessary for official use.
However, Deputy Ombudsman Elman said “the prevailing threshold for shopping (in 2007) was only P50,000 for unforeseen contingency requiring immediate purchase, while P250,000 for ordinary or regular office supplies and equipment not available in the procurement service.”
Elman added that the said the officials failed to show that the cellular phones are ordinary or regular office supplies indicated in the procurement law. RAM
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