Graft raps filed vs Drilon detractor

A detractor of Sen. Franklin Drilon had been charged in the antigraft court Sandiganbayan with cheating the government through the purchase of a laptop that was worth less than its declared cost.

Manuel Mejorada, also former Iloilo provincial administrator, is facing one count of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Four former members of the provincial government’s bids and awards committee were also charged.

The case arose from the purchase of an Acer Aspire laptop with a price tag of P99,000 from lone bidder Seven Seven Trading.

The unit delivered to the provincial government, however, turned out to be a different model, an Acer Travelmate with specifications different from Aspire and was worth only P59,900.

The purchase, according to case records, caused undue injury to the provincial government and gave unwarranted benefit to Seven Seven Trading.

Mejorada’s coaccused were identified as Ramie Salcedo, Patricia Grace Trabado, Edgar Piansay Sr. and Danny Baldemor, all former members of the provincial government’s bids and awards committee. Prosecutors recommended bail of P30,000 for each of the accused.

Mejorada was known for accusing Drilon of graft and plunder over the alleged overpricing of the P700-million Iloilo Convention Center, a pet project of Drilon when he was still Senate president.

A Senate inquiry in November 2014 fizzled out when Mejorada admitted having “no evidence” and relying only on industry standards in computations that led him to conclude that the convention center was overpriced.

The Ombudsman months later dismissed Mejorada’s complaint against Drilon and several Cabinet officials.