MANILA, Philippines – Officials of Makati City and Ospital ng Makati were slapped with graft and malversation charges Tuesday over alleged anomalous procurement contracts in 2000 and 2001, which totaled P43 million.
Several officials of Makati faced two counts of graft and malversation, specifically: former City administrator Nicanor V. Santiago Jr.; general services department head Ernesto A. Aspillaga; supply officer II Conrado B. Pamintuan; storekeeper II Eduardo G. de Guzman; administrative officer Jaime P. de los Reyes; storekeeper IV Nestor R. Bulos; Nursing Services head Lolita G. Valdez; OB Dept. nurse Althea C. Suico; and trader Apollo B. Carreon.
Charged with one count of graft and malversation were Ospital ng Makati-OB Department chair Mabel B. Asunio, assistant medical director Ramoncito R. Coronel, Dept. of Medicine head nurse Maria Perpetua Q. Reyeg, OR nurse Love Grace S. Bulos, supply and property department head Rudolfo B. Fernandez, state auditor II Pascualita Capaycapay-Peñaflor, city auditor Edgardo F. Mamuyac, Makati City GSD clerk Lilia Nonato, GSD Medical Section inspector Ligaya Ibay and supplier Carmen C. Maano.
The charges, filed before the Sandiganbayan, involved the awarding of two separate supply contracts allegedly ignoring rules on the mandatory holding of public bidding.
Graft Prosecutor Francis Euston R. Acero alleged that the defendants committed criminal acts when it approved the P8.83 million delivery deal for Dry Heat Autoclave Sterilizers on December 29, 2000; and a P35 million supply contract for hospital beds, bedside cabinets, intensive care unit beds and orthopedic beds on March 14, 2001.
Investigators said the machines delivered only cost P29,500.
Meanwhile, the beds and cabinets supposedly imported from UGM Medisys of Kendall Park, New Jersey were also fraudulent.
A brand or company under the name UGM Medisys does not exist, said government auditors, adding that the actual cost of the delivered items only cost around P2.5 million.
Acting Ombudsman Orlando C. Casimiro approved the indictment of the defendants based on the recommendations of the Preliminary Investigation, Administrative and Adjudication and Review Bureau.
Former City Mayor Elenita Binay, wife of Vice President Jejomar Binay, was initially named as a respondent in the complaint but was cleared by the Ombudsman due to lack of evidence.
Acero recommended that defendants Santiago, Aspillaga, Fernandez, Coronel, Valdez, Reyeg, Suico, Pamintuan, De los Reyes, De Guzman, Nestor Bulos, Nonato, Ibay, Carreon and Maano beheld without bail because of the huge amount of money involved.