Ombudsman sacks ex-PLM president for irregular procurement of van

The Ombudsman has dismissed from service former Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) President Jose Roy III and Vice President for Finance and Planning Angelita Solis over the irregular procurement of a Hyundai Starex van in 2006.

In a statement on Tuesday, the office said it found Roy and Solis guilty of grave misconduct.

Roy served as acting president from Feb. 24 to June 1, 2006. Meanwhile, Solis is an incumbent vice president.

Also dismissed from service are Cecilia Calma, Angeles Ramos, Eloisa Macalinao, Felix Aspiras and Albert Dela Cruz.

The dismissal stemmed from the irregular procurement of a Hyundai Starex van worth P1.1 million in 2006.

The Ombudsman said no public bidding was conducted and that the university officials resorted to direct contracting as a mode of procurement.

The Commission on Audit has issued a Notice of Suspension citing non-compliance with procurement regulations and the lack of the university’s annual procurement plan.

The respondents claimed that the “decision to resort to direct contracting stemmed from the urgency of the end-user’s need.”

But the Ombudsman said “respondents deliberately disregarded the requirements of R.A. 9184 (Government Procurement Reform Act) to favor and give benefits to the dealer of Hyundai Starex van.”

The university officials were also meted with the accessory penalties of perpetual disqualification from public office and forfeiture of retirement benefits.

In the event that the dismissal can no longer be enforced, the dismissal will be converted to a fine equivalent to the respondent’s one year salary. CDG

READ: PCSO chair Maliksi sued for graft, malversation for ‘using’ idle pork funds