2 Lapu-Lapu barangay captains sued for graft and corruption

CEBU, Philippines —  Two of the seven barangay captains, who earlier sued Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Chan and six other city officials for alleged graft and corruption, are facing a similar complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman after their constituents accused them of anomalies in their COVID-19 response.

Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) president Eduardo Cuizon, who sits as ex-officio member of the Lapu-Lapu City Council, was accused by Celestino Pangatungan Jr. of violating Section 3(e)(j) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Pangatungan said Cuizon, as barangay captain of Bankal, made irregular purchases of vitamins amounting to P285,000 without a competitive bidding.

Also named respondents are councilmen Regino Cuizon, chairman of the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), Cleofas Quijano, Manuel Cuizon and Mario Inot, all BAC members, and barangay treasurer Crisanta Inot.

The complainant said the respondents favored Rhice Trading, a supplier of school and office supplies, over Ace Pharmacy and R E Pharmaceuticals to supply the barangay of vitamin C.

The procurement allegedly did not pass through public bidding contrary to what is mandated under the Government Procurement Act or RA 9184. The transaction was not also published in PhilGEPS website or in any conspicuous place.

“This was not followed. The purchase request for vitamin C was dated December 10, 2020 and the canvas was on the same day and the purchase order was dated December 11 or the next day,” read part of the complaint.

The complainant also alleged that Rhice Trading’s tax clearance certificate expired on December 4, 2020, few days before it made business transaction with Barangay Bankal.

“The haste in awarding the contract of their preferred bidder, Rhice Trading, was part of the grand design by the respondents to employ a dishonest purpose,” the complainant added.

On the other hand, Maribago Barangay Captain Rosalino Abing was also accused of buying COVID-19 supplies without a competitive bidding. Ruben Pangatungan, a resident of Maribago, said the barangay procured glass cubicles from One In A Shop Enterprise and personal protective equipment amounting to P293,080 without a public bidding.

Also included in the complaint are councilmen Alimoden Pangatungan, BAC chairman, Reynaldo Ompad, Anecita Paquibot, Jennes Maglasang, Eddie Daño, Arvin Fiel Abing, BAC members, and Melody Paquibot, barangay treasurer.

“Despite the threshold set forth by law, no bidding was conducted by the said purchases,” the complainant said.

Cuizon and Abing were among the seven barangay captains allied with Lapu-Lapu City Lone District Rep. Paz Radaza who sued Chan and several of his department heads before the anti-graft office.

 “When it rains, it pours,” Chan said when sought for comment on the latest complaints filed against his detractors.

It can be recalled that on March 8, 2022 Chan and six city officials also filed perjury charges against Cuizon and Abing along with Gun-ob barangay captain Eleonor Fontanoza, Looc barangay captain Regina Ybañez, Tungasan barangay captain Triponia Abayan, Subabasbas barangay captain Joselito Tibon and Canjulao barangay captain Reynaldo Tampus.

Earlier, they accused Chan of graft and malversation of public funds for awarding a P47 million contract to a furniture company owned by a city official to supply food and relief goods for disaster response. — FPL (FREEMAN)