Ex-Cebu mayor charged over overpriced fertilizers

State prosecutors have formally charged former Consolacion, Cebu, Mayor Avelino Gungob Sr. at the Sandiganbayan over the purchase of allegedly overpriced fertilizers worth P249,000.

According to the Office of the Ombudsman, the municipal government on June 27, 2005 purchased 166 bottles of liquid fertilizer at a cost of P1,500 per bottle from MM Castillo General Merchandise.

This was overpriced by P219,120, or 733 percent, as the Commission on Audit had found that the price should only have been P180 a bottle, according to the charge sheet signed by Graft Investigation and Prosecution Officer III Sergio Duke Villar.

Gungob was charged with one count of violating Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. Also accused were municipal treasurer Rosalina Maglasang, municipal accountant Lecelie Placibe, municipal agriculturist Evangeline Puao, municipal engineer Carlito Maglasang, municipal social welfare and development officer Florisa Bagasbas, municipal assessor Marilou Herrera, and bids and awards committee member Siegfred Cataluna, as well as MM Castillo owner Marilyn Castillo.

The charge sheet recommended that bail be set at P30,000 each. JE