MANILA - The Office of the Ombudsman has filed a graft case against former Tourism Secretary Ace Durano for the conceptualization and development of wall calendars worth P2.7 million in 2008.

Aside from Durano, other DOT officials at the time were also charged by the Ombudsman, namely Undersecretary Oscar Palabyab, Grace Yoro, Eduardo Jarque, Jr., Evelyn Cajigal and Adriana Flor who all served in the Bids and Awards Committee of the department.

In the information filed on March 22, the Ombudsman said the officials connived in giving PDP Digital, Inc. unwarranted benefits for “DOT wall calendar” for the year 2009 “without competitive bidding or justification for necessity of direct contracting.”

The Ombudsman said Durano “unilaterally entered” into a memorandum of agreement dated October 17, 2008 and instead of a BAC resolution justifying the alternative mode of procurement, he issued a certification dated December 2, 2008.

The BAC also supposedly signed a resolution in November 2008 which noted the direct contracting procurement, without conducting public bidding or an industry survey.

The information was initially approved by former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales on July 17 last year and was re-approved by Ombudsman Samuel Martires on January 29.

The recommended bail by the Ombudsman is P30,000 for each of the accused.