Ombudsman probing NPO execs on overpriced OR forms

MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman is investigating National Printing Office (NPO) officials for an allegedly illegal procurement of official receipt (OR) forms of the Cebu provincial government last February worth P3.62 million.

The probe stemmed from a graft complaint filed by printer Guillermo Sylianteng Jr. in April, accusing NPO acting director Emmanuel Andaya as well as NPO bids and awards committee chair Sylvia Banda and members Josefina Samson, Entonio Sillona, Bernadette Lagumen, Ma. Gracia Enriquez, and Raul Nagrampa of allegedly making an illegal “emergency” procurement that resulted in the government buying overpriced OR forms.

Ombudsman director Medwin Dizon also asked a Cebu-based printing firm to explain its role in the procurement.

Sylianteng said there was no need for the NPO to make an emergency procurement since there was no state of calamity in Cebu province that merited doing away with the conduct of a public bidding.

He added that the NPO had a stock of such OR forms that it could have provided the Cebu provincial government. He said the NPO’s own OR forms cost P100 per pad for 25,000 pads compared to the Cebu-based printer’s price of P3,170 per pad.

Sylianteng also pointed out that the Government Procurement Policy Board has already declared the NPO’s subcontract of printing contracts of other government agencies as violative of the government procurement laws.

Sylianteng had also filed a complaint against eight NPO executives that led to the Ombudsman ordering their dismissal in September 2010 for a highly irregular bidding conducted in September 2009 to subcontract printing contracts of other government agencies.