Ex-Zamboanga mayor faces graft over bulldozer purchase

Office of the Ombudsman. NOY MORCOSO/INQUIRER.net FILE

A former mayor at Siayan, Zamboanga Del Norte, faces a graft case for the allegedly anomalous acquisition of a P15.89-million bulldozer in 2008.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Office of the Ombudsman found probable cause to charge ex-Mayor Wilfredo Siasico for violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act or Republic Act 3019 over the allegedly illegal acquisition of a brand new bulldozer worth P15,892,500 in 2008.

According to the complaint of the Commission on Audit, Siasico unilaterally authorized the purchase of a bulldozer from Monark Equipment Corporation without any public bidding and publication.

The Ombudsman in its resolution said “as the local chief executive, Siasico is not only expected to know the procedure in procurement, but most importantly, obliged to follow it.”

“It was without regard to the high position [Siasico] occupied which imposed him with great responsibilities and obliged him to be more circumspect in the discharge of his duties. As a result of his deliberate unlawful action, the Municipality was deprived of the opportunity to acquire the best possible product at the most reasonable price which could have been achieved had a competitive bidding been conducted,” the Ombudsman said. CBB