CEBU CITY – Multiple charges stemming from alleged overpriced procurements were filed against Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas on Monday.
The complainants accused Chan of plunder, malversation of public funds and violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
City Councilors Michael Dignos, Flaviano Hiyas Jr., Alexander Gestopa Jr. and Rodolfo Potot and some private individuals acted as complainants.
Aside from Chan, officials of the city’s Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, Treasurer’s Office, Accountant Office, Bids and Awards Committee, Social Welfare and Development Office and private groups were also named respondents in the complaint.
The complainants alleged that there were irregularities when the city purchased 160,992 sacks of rice amounting to P410,636,900 in 2020.
The complainants alleged that the rice procurement was overpriced by P136,843,200.
Citing a 2020 Commission on Audit report, the average purchase price per sack of rice was P2,645.
The complainants said that the city could have bought rice at P1,700 per sack or even lesser “considering that the purchases were in bulk.”
The complainants also questioned the suppliers of the rice procurement.
According to the complainants, there was a supplier which is actually a furniture company while some of the stores of the suppliers cannot be found in the address indicated in the disbursement vouchers.
The complainants also alleged that the city’s purchase of disinfectants were overpriced by P403,750.
According to the complainants, the city purchased alcohol in May 2020 at P1,287 per gallon when at the time, the prevailing price of the items ranged from P400-P600 only.
The complainants added that the city’s purchase of solar lamp posts and kits were overpriced by P76,185,945.
Chan, who is seeking reelection in the May 9 elections, denied the allegations against him, saying the charges are politically motivated.
Chan said the sacks of rice were purchased at the time when the city was battling the global pandemic. Prices of basic commodities, including rice, soared at the time, said Chan.
The procured sacks of rice were distributed to Lapu-Lapu City residents to help cushion the impact of the pandemic, said Chan.
“Isip amahan sa syudad, nangita ra man unta ko og paagi nga mapakaon ang akong mga anak. Kung dili usab ko mopalit og bugas, unsa may akong ipakaon sa mga tao? Kung sala nako ang paghatag og pagkaon sa mga katawhan andam ko magpa priso basta lang dili mangamatay ang mga Oponganon sa kagutom (As a father of the city, I just looked for ways so I can feed my children. If I did not purchase those rice, what will I feed to the people? If it was a crime to provide the people with food, I am ready to go to jail so that the Oponganon will be spared from dying because of hunger),” Chan said in his official Facebook page.
Chan also has a pending case for graft and malversation of public funds that the same group filed against him by the same group.
The separate case involved a P47-million purchase of food packs and food relief items.
The complainants said the filing of cases against Chan had nothing to do with politics.
“The cases are based on evidence. We cannot file if we didn’t have evidence. It was their report that we used as basis in filing the cases,” said lawyer Ferdinand Dungog, legal counsel of the complainants.