Zamboanga del Sur's lady solon charged for P14-M solar lights deal

The Office of the Ombudsman has filed a graft case against the recently elected congresswoman of Zamboanga del Sur over the allegedly anomalous procurement of P14.9-million worth of solar-powered street lights in 2008 during her term as the governor of the province.

In a case information sheet filed before the Sandiganbayan on July 12, a copy of which was released to the media only on Wednesday, the Ombudsman charged Zamboange del Sur Second District Rep. Aurora Cerilles with violation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Section 3 (e) of RA 3019 prohibits public official from giving unwarranted benefit, advantage or preference to any party or from causing any party, including the government, undue injury.

Also charged with the same offense were four former members of the Zamboanga del Sur Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) namely Rino Soria, Mark Anthony Padayhag, Wenefreda Cañada and Evelyn Panuncialman.

Based on the information of the case, filed by the Ombudsman’s prosecutorial arm Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), Cerilles on March 11, 2008 approved the purchase of 40 sets of solar street lights amounting P14.998 million from a private company Willstrong Becker Philippines.

The OSP said the purchase was done with “undue haste” through direct contracting instead of a public bidding required under Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act.

The OSP said the resort to direct contracting “deprived the Provincial Government the opportunity to secure the best possible price and terms for said street lights.”

In a resolution earlier issued by the Ombudsman ordering the filing of the case, it said that based on a Commission on Audit (COA) report, the purchase contract was awarded to Willstrong through a BAC resolution on the same day the company submitted its price quotation on March 11, 2008.

The Ombudsman further said  “it took the procuring entity only three days to consummate the transaction from the date Willstrong submitted its quotation.”

Records from the Sandiganbayan First Division showed that Cerilles and the four other respondents have each posted P30,000 bail bond on July 18.

The First Division has yet to set the date of Cerilles and the other respondents’ arraignment.

Cerilles won as representative of the Second District of Zamboanga del Sur on May 9, 2016 elections, replacing her husband Antonio Cerilles who was elected as governor of the province. —ALG, GMA News