3 EAMC execs axed for shady P10.7-M deals

MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman yesterday ordered the dismissal of three East Avenue Medical Center officials for their alleged involvement in anomalous purchases worth P10.7 million 11 years ago.

Medical chief Rolando Cortez, finance management officer Marietta Cruz and chief administrative officer Jose Calixtro were found guilty of the administrative offense of grave misconduct, said Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales.

Probers uncovered that in 2006, EAMC procured medical supplies worth P10,353,276.75 without conducting a public bidding.  

The procurement was broken down and split into 47 small purchases not exceeding P250,000 each and awarded only to two suppliers.   

In addition, the EAMC bought 20 air conditioners and 13 exhaust fans totaling P450,950 in January 2006. The procurement was split into two small purchases not exceeding P250,000 each and awarded to one supplier.

In 2006, the threshold for small value procurement was set at P250,000 and there was no need to hold public biddings for contracts that fall below this amount.

“Their acts were blatantly irregular and outside the bounds of established rules and principles as they opted to split the contracts even though the same should have been subject of a single transaction,” graft investigators said.

Morales said Cortez approved all the purchase requests, purchase orders, disbursement vouchers and checks; Cruz certified the availability of funds and completeness of supporting documents and Calixtro signed the purchase requests and counter-signed the checks.