DISALLOWED TRANSACTION

MANGATAREM – The Commission on Audit (COA) sent a second notice to the  town’s mayor, Ramil P. Ventenilla, after failing to return the disallowed expenditure amounting to P2,839,285.72 for violating government rules in acquiring equipment using government funds in 2017.

Last April 8, 2019, COA sent the second “Notice of Disallowance” verdict issued by the COA’s Regional Office No. 1 (Team R1-06, Audit Group D) in Lingayen after Ventenilla failed to comply with the first notice asking him to return the money in the disallowed expenditure.

The twin verdict found him violating twice Sections 23.1, 34.2 and 18 of the IRR (Implementing Rules & Regulations) of R.A. No. 9184 and Sections 1 & 2 of Administrative Order No. 200 signed on Nov. 21, 1990 by the late President Cory Aquino.

The unauthorized transactions involved the purchase by Ventenilla in 2017 of one bulldozer worth P2,366,071.43 and one payloader worth P473,214.29.

The following were also “held liable for the transaction”— Charito L. Malicdem as Bids & Awards Committee (BAC) chairman, and BAC members Noel Tomas S. Vergara, Benito T. Jazmin, Alexander B. Carpio, Melchor A. Alviar (TWG) and Edward C. Soquila.

COA ordered “the aforementioned persons liable to settle immediately the said disallowance, ” amounting to P2,839,285.72.

The twin decisions were penned by Zosimo T. Solano Jr., state auditor III and OIC-Audit team leader, and Thelma A. Orinion, state auditor V and supervising auditor.

The notice of disallowance was sent to Ventenilla through Kenaz W. Bautista, the municipal accountant of Mangatarem who was also charged.

The decision was anchored on the fraudulent business permit of payee Machsource Corporation, the supplier from San Carlos City.

After their investigation, Solano and Orinion said, “Review of the Eligibility documents of the supplier revealed that the attached Business permit in the bidding documents submitted was expired.  In the post-qualification dated January 6, 2017, the Supplier failed to submit the official receipt as a proof for the renewal of permit.  Upon further verification and inquiry on the Business permit disclosed that the official receipt for the application was dated January 18, 2017.  It is considered that the Supplier was ineligible for the contract.”

The PUNCH tried to reach Ventenilla in his office for his reaction but the latter could no     t be reached. – Editor

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