Deped Officials Charged Over Cellphone Procurement

Three former officials of the Department of Education (Deped) inTagum City, Davao del Norte are facing charges for violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act No. 3019) for the anomalous procurement of 32 units of cellular phones amounting to P317,380.00 in 2007.

In a six-page Resolution, Deputy Ombudsman for Mindanao Rodolfo Elman ordered the filing of Informations against former Schools Division Superintendent Aurora Cubero, Division Superintendent Salvacion Yumang, and Adminitrative Officer Emma Betonio.
Records show that in November 2007, respondents facilitated the procurement of 32 cellphones by way of shopping and cash advance claiming that the items were exceptionally necessary and indispensable for official use.

According to Deputy Ombudsman Elman, “the prevailing threshold for shopping (in 2007) was only P50,000.00 for unforeseen contingency requiring immediate purchase, while P250,000.00 for ordinary or regular office supplies and equipment not available in the procurement service.” He added that “there is no showing that the cellular phones are ordinary or regular office supplies” as contemplated in procurement laws.

Source: www.ombudsman.gov.ph