Mayor faces graft raps on truck sale

Graft charges will be filed against the mayor of Aloguinsan town accused of selling two government-owned dump trucks without following procedures.

The Office of the Ombudsman in the Visayas recommended the filing of charges against Aloguinsan Mayor Augustus Caesar Moreno for violating Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corruptr Practices Act.

Graft investigation and prosecution officer Sarah Jo Vergara said there is sufficient evidence to press charges against Moreno who allegedly disposed the vehicles without conducting public bidding.

Moreno was also accused of placing the dump trucks inside the garage owned by his family—a violation under the “Government Accounting and Auditing Manual.”

The violations were committed by Moreno during his tenure as vice mayor.

A complaint was filed by resident Danilo Margallo against Moreno and his wife Cynthia, who was the town mayor when the controversy came out.

The anti-graft office sought assistance from the Commission on Audit (COA) to verify allegations that the couple disposed of some heavy equipment owned by the town.

COA later found out that there were violations committed in the disposal of two dump trucks.

State Auditor Esperanza Obatay said the two vehicles were sold for P150,000.

The mayor admitted to COA that he was responsible for the disposal of the two vehicles which were already “unserviceable.”

Moreno said he sold the dump trucks to a direct buyer through negotiated sale on Nov. 19, 2007. About P150,000 representing the proceeds of the sale was remitted to the municipality.

Moreno said he never made his own evaluation on the price of the two trucks. He said he wanted to dispose the two vehicles, which turned to be “eyesores” in their town.

Moreno suggested that the vehicles be kept in the garage owned by their family.

He said Bids and Awards Committee chairman Pepito Manguilimotan sent a letter to COA informing the office of the bidding to be conducted so the vehicles will be sold.

COA allegedly didn’t make any comment nor sent a representative to the scheduled bidding.

Moreno said the BAC proceeded with the bidding though no bidders actually came.  They later canvassed for junk shops and three junk shops submitted price quotations.

The two trucks were eventually awarded to Rufino Alpas Junk Shop. The Ombudsman ordered the investigation of BAC officials in Aloguinsan.

The anti-graft office said a public bidding should have been conducted before the two vehicles were sold.  /Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol