Palawan town mayor faces graft case for pumpboat purchase

MANILA — Cuyo, Palawan Mayor Andrew Lim Ong faces a graft case before the Sandiganbayan for purchasing a P200,000 pumpboat without public bidding.

State prosecutors accused Ong of violating Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for allegedly conspiring with Rellie Giducos Alis over the purchase.

The case information stated that Ong gave unwarranted benefits to Alis by “preselecting the latter and awarding to him the contract… without public bidding and the active participation of the Bids and Awards Committee.”

Ong’s alleged actions were contrary to Section 12, Article V of the Government Procurement Reform Act, and Section 360 of the Local Government Code, prosecutors said.  SFM