Ex-Samar mayor faces raps over medicine purchase

MANILA, Philippines — A former mayor of Hinabangan, Samar is facing criminal charges over the alleged anomalous purchase of medicine in 2010 and 2011.

Alejandro Abarratigue was charged with four counts of graft before the Sandiganbayan on Dec. 1.

Former bids and awards committee chairman Esmeralda Frincillo as well as BAC members Lesarbo Mengote, Raul Tapia, Renato Abayare, Roel Pazon and secretariat Alan Babon were included in the charge sheets.

The respondents awarded four contracts to “ineligible and unqualified” bidders, the Office of the Ombudsman said in the complaints released on Friday.

The contracts were awarded to Doxia Marketing on March 13, 2010 and LSM Pharma and Medical Supply on Aug. 9, Nov. 25, 2010 and Oct. 10, 2011.

The Office of the Ombudsman said the companies got the contracts despite failure to submit and meet the requirements under Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act.

The respondents approved and processed the release of payments to the suppliers even though they knew that the bidding was marred by irregularities, the court said.

In an earlier resolution finding probable cause to file charges against Abarratigue and his co-accused, the ombudsman said the contracts amounted to P7.5 million.

“Only partial delivery of medicine and medical supplies were made,” the resolution added.

Abarratigue is facing another graft case before the Sandiganbayan in connection with the alleged anomalous purchase of a lot worth P500,000 in 2008 for the supposed expansion of the municipal cemetery.

The ombudsman said the lot was purchased without approval of the municipal council as required under the Local Government Code.