Bacolod City Mayor Evelio "Bing" Leonardia has been formally charged with graft at the Sandiganbayan over the alleged anomalous procurement of P49 million worth of furniture and fixtures for the city's new National Government Center in 2008.
The Office of the Ombudsman filed one count for violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act against Leonardia and nine others.
The other respondents were former secretary to the mayor and bids and awards committee chairwoman Goldwyn Nifras, city budget officer Luzviminda Treyes, department of public services head Nelson Sedillo Sr., city engineer Belly Aguillon, city accountant Eduardo Ravena, assistant department head Aladino Agbones, architect Jaries Ebenizer Encabo, assistant general services officer Melvin Recabar, and city treasurer Annabelle Badajos.
The Ombudsman said the public officials awarded the fully-paid contract to Comfac Corporation despite the firm's non-compliance with eligibility requirements stated under the law and instruction to bidders.
The public officials also irregularly converted the contract's bid security of one percent to a higher performance security rate of five percent.
Furthermore, the Ombudsman questionned Leonardia and his co-accused for allowing the payment of P57,600 worth of liquidated damages when it should have been P14.1 million due to Comfac's late deliveries.
Delivery of the furniture and fixtures for the government center were finished about one year and eight months behind the agreed date of delivery.
The Ombudsman said Leonardia and his co-accused gave unwarranted benefits to Comfac at the expense of public funds.
A bail bond of P30,000 is recommended for each of the respondents.
The case has been raffled to the Fourth Division.
The Ombudsman had earlier ordered the dismissal of Leonardia after finding him guilty of grave misconduct and gross neglect of duty before it was reversed by the Court of Appeals in September.
Source: ALG GMA News
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