THE Office of the Ombudsman has taken cognizance of the buried expired medicines and medical equipment in two separate sites of the provincial capitol compound and will send its investigators to help determine culpabilities.

This was gleaned in a letter received by Governor Amado Espino Jr. on June 15 from Mark Jalandoni, deputy Ombudsman, who said his office will join the investigation in order to expedite the filing of cases against responsible officials.

At the same time, the provincial board is set to conduct its own investigation and inquiry.

Fourth District Board Member Jeremy Agerico Rosario, chairman of the Committee on Health, said those invited to the question hour includes both the immediate past and present provincial officials in charge of the General Services Office, Provincial Health Office, Provincial Administrator, Provincial Engineering Office, Budget Officer and the Accounting Office and the team that conducted the retrieval operation of the medicines and other medical supplies dumped at the provincial engineering office and behind the Sison Auditorium.

Paterno Orduna, special executive assistant and head of a task force created by Governor Amado Espino Jr., said Ombudsman Mercedita Gutierrez is sending two anti-graft investigation officers to Pangasinan to help unravel the mystery behind the buried expired medicines and medical equipment.

“We are very thankful to the Ombudsman that they took cognizance of the case so that truth will come out.” said Orduña during the “Engkwentro sa Lenox” public forum.

The Commission on Audit and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group have started their investigation.

Rep. Victor Agbayani, who was governor when the expired medicines and medical equipment was buried said in previous forum that the matter “is no big deal,” stressing “let’s not make mountains out of molehills”.

Orduna, however, stressed that what they dug up were mountains of expired medicines and medical equipment, including condoms and contraceptives.

Governor Espino created the task forced headed by Orduna when he received a tip from provincial employees who witnessed the dumping of crates of expired medicines and medical equipment sometime in 2005 and 2006.

Orduna said the Capitol is keen on tracing the paper trail to substantiate the testimonies of people who supposedly witnessed the dumping of the expired items.

He said initial investigations reveal that the expired medicines and materials found in a pit at the back of the provincial motor pool were not covered by any document, unlike those dumped at the back of the Sison auditorium.

Agbayani said he welcomes the probe even as he stressed that these expired medicines and medical equipment could not have been bought by the province but may be donations from private groups. – LM

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