Lapu ABC chief, 13 others facing graft charges

THE president of Lapu-Lapu City’s Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) and 13 other barangay officials in Lapu-Lapu City have been sued by two private complainants before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas for allegedly conducting illegal procurement of Covid-19 related supplies.Celestino Pangatungan and his relative Ruben Pangatungan filed separate cases before the anti-graft office against the officials of Barangays Bankal and Maribago on Tuesday, March 8, 2022.The complainants alleged in a press conference on Wednesday, March 9 that the officials of the two barangays violated Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, after they found irregularities in the two barangays’ procurement of Covid-19 related products.Celestino filed a case against ABC president and Bankal village chief Eduardo Cuizon and his village councilors Regino Cuizon, Cleofas Quijano, Manuel Cuizon, Mario Inot, and Treasurer Crisanta Inot.According to Celestino’s complaint, Cuizon and his fellow co-accused procured P285,000 worth of Vitamin C from a supplier that is not engaged in the supply of medicines or vitamins.Celestino, who resides in Bankal, said the supplier has categorized itself as a “supplier of school and office supplies.”In a separate complaint, Ruben sued Maribago Barangay Captain Rosalino Abing, Councilors Alemoden Pangatungan, Reynaldo Ompad, Anecita Paquibot, Jennes Maglasang, Eddie Daño and Arvin Fiel Abing, and Treasurer Melody Paquibot.Ruben, a Maribago resident, alleged that no bidding was done during the purchase of glass cubicles for protection of staff against the virus worth P218,500 and Covid-related accessories, masks and chemicals worth P97,000.The purchases were made sometime in August 2020 and February 2021.The complainant said the purchases made by the barangay did not undergo any competitive bidding as required by law.Ruben further alleged that the supplier is not registered in the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System.The two complainants denied they had any political affiliation and stated that they only filed the complaints because they were concerned citizens of their respective barangays.Ruben and Celestino admitted the two of them are related but living in separate barangays.Lawyer Sean Obenza, who stood as counsel of the complainants, said Ruben and Celestino sought assistance from his office after noticing discrepancies in the barangays’ procurement process.Obenza added that their law firm helped the complainants in gathering the documents necessary for their case before the Office of the Ombudsman.Obenza further said they still need to check the audit reports from the Commission on Audit, but they believe that the documents they are holding right now are enough for the case to prosper.SunStar Cebu tried to get a statement from Cuizon and Abing but all calls and text messsages to their cellphones remained unanswered as of press time.