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[av_heading heading=’Ombudsman sacks treasurer over fertilizer ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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Tuesday, November 7, 2017
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ILOILO City – The Office of the Ombudsman dismissed from the service the municipal treasurer of Guimbal, Iloilo.
The Department of Finance recently implemented the dismissal order against Ma. Asuncion Isabel Gargalicano. She was found guilty of grave misconduct.
Gargalicano was also perpetually disqualified from holding public office. Her civil service eligibility was cancelled and her retirement benefits forfeited.
The Ombudsman held Gargalicano accountable for the procurement of P3-million worth of Bionature liquid organic fertilizers from Feshan Philippines Inc. in 2004. It said there was no bidding and the liquid fertilizer was overpriced by P1,500 per bottle, as a similar product can be procured at only P120 per bottle.
Guimbal’s mayor at the time was Richard Garin, now congressman of Iloilo’s 1st District. He could not be reached for comment as of this writing.
Last month, the Ombudsman charged Calinog, Iloilo mayor Alex Centena with graft before the Sandiganbayan relative to a fertilizer procurement.
According to Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, Feshan was given unwarranted benefits as supplier of 666 bottles of Bionature liquid fertilizers worth P999,000.
“The contract with Feshan was sealed through direct contracting and without complying first with the mandatory public bidding as required under procurement rules, therefore causing undue injury to the government,” said Carpio-Morales.
Centena was accused of violating Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
His other co-accused were then municipal officials Valentin Sobretodo, Meriam Celeste, Crispino Castro, Jose Rex Casipe, Melanie Hilario, Rhoda Lyn Panizales, Jose Enriquez, and Anna Lerio Caspillo, and Feshan representative Jose Barredo Jr.
In August 2014, seven town employees were dismissed from government service for the alleged fertilizer fund scam. One was acquitted for lack of substantial evidence.
According to Centena, the case is now pending at the Court of Appeals.
It was Task Force Abono, field investigation office of the Office of the Ombudsman that filed a complaint for dishonesty, grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service against the eight employees./PN
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