Cotabato vice mayor to face raps for faking reimbursement documents

A Cotabato vice mayor was indicted for faking documents required in the reimbursement of the purchase of eyeglasses.

In a statement on Thursday, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales said the office has found probable cause to file charges of falsification of public documents against Makilala Vice Mayor Ricky Cua.

Ombudsman investigators found that Cua procured 314 reading glasses for his constituents worth P99,000 subject to reimbursement from the local government.

To reimburse the cost, Cua allegedly falsified the cash invoice provided by the supplier as well as the abstract of canvass.

The Ombudsman also accused Cua of pressuring Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) members Roel Caoagdan, Mario Ranis, Edwin Arellano, Pio Abonado, Jr., and Giovanni Ignacio to select a favored supplier.

The BAC members were indicted to face charges of two counts of Falsification of Public Documents.

The Ombudsman said the BAC members falsified the abstract of canvass and resolution to make it appear that the supplier submitted the most advantageous price. These documents were also used to support Cua’s request for reimbursement.

In the resolution, Morales said “it was Cua himself who purchased the eyeglasses, and who prepared and processed the supporting documents in order to get refunded of their supposed value.”

“Respondent Cua made use of the invoice in successfully obtaining the supposed reimbursement of the P99,000.00 in his favor,” the Ombudsman added.

Cua “unduly influenced and exerted unwarranted pressure on the BAC members to take Naem as their chosen supplier,” Morales said.

Cua also faces charges of violations of Section 65(3) of the Government Procurement Reform Act and Section 7(a) of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

The procurement law penalizes the act of unduly influencing or exerting undue pressure on any member of the BAC or any officer or employee of the procuring entity to take a particular action which favors, or tends to favor a particular bidder.

Meanwhile, the Code of Conduct prohibits public officials from having any financial or material interest in any transaction requiring the approval of their office. CDG

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