Ex-Misamis mayor faces graft raps

MANILA, Philippines - A former town mayor and five other municipal officials of Misamis Occidental have been ordered charged with graft in connection with the allegedly anomalous purchase of fertilizer.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales yesterday ordered the filing of charges against former Lopez Jaena town mayor Zenaida Azcuna; members of the municipal bids and awards committee (BAC) Marietes Bonalos, Aurora Alon, Marcial Lamoste, Homer Lariba and Alicia Penales, and supplier Alberto Aquino.

Records show that in 2005 the municipal government received P1 million from the Department of Agriculture for the purchase of fertilizer. 

The Commission on Audit found out that no bidding was conducted for the procurement of the fertilizer. It said the respondents reportedly resorted to direct contracting, which violated the Government Procurement Reform Act.

The ombudsman said the fertilizer was overpriced by P1,375 per liter.

Graft investigators found out that the project was not urgent and was endorsed by Azcuna’s husband, then vice mayor Melquides Azcuna.