COA
probs P168-M
equipment bidding
The Commission on Audit
(COA) is conducting its own investigation even before the review panel formed
by Gov. Erico Aumentado to look into the controversy surrounding the P168-million
heavy equipment purchase of the provincial government can submit its findings.
The
COA probe came after letter complaints were submitted by Talibon Dam whistleblower
Engr. Petronilo Sarigumba to the Ombudsman-Visayas and the COA.
State
auditor Pedro Paumig Jr., provincial audit team leader of COA, told Sarigumba
in a letter dated March 9 that the agency is "now in the process of revisiting
the procurement process" and a team has been created led by CPA-lawyer Hazel
Calamba.
The
provincial COA Team-1 "is conducting a separate inquiry and monitoring relative
to the procurement of the P168 million equipment purchase".
| | | Sarigumba
raised the absence of a COA representative during the heavy equipment bidding
which is mandated in the Government Procurement Law. Paumig
explained however, that the COA has lifted the "witnessing of the opening
of bids" and the "observation of the proceedings" of the bids and
awards committee (BAC). He
said, this is "to accelerate the delivery of public services and improving
the operations of the government by curbing undue bureaucratic red tape and ensuring
facilitation of government transactions, while continuing to preserve and protect
the integrity of these transactions". | ROLE
OF COA
According
to Paumig, the absence of a COA auditor in a bid opening does not invalidate the
award of the contract.
While
there are offenses defined in Sec. 65 of RA 9184 (Government Procurement Law),
that occur during the actual bidding process, Paumig pointed out that procurement
anomalies are also committed in the implementation of the contract, acceptance
and payment stages of the procurement process.
"For
obvious reasons the frauds committed during the implementation, inspection and
acceptance stages are not detected during the bidding."
The
state auditor stressed that as the anomalies are subsequently uncovered and denounced,
the guilty party would also invoke the presence of the observers in all stages
of the proceedings in trying to prove the integrity of the procurement process.
Paumig
added that COA auditors present during the bid proceedings are being used as shield
of procurement anomalies which they are sworn to prevent, and much worse, they
are made "unwitting conspirators".
REVIEW
TEAM
The
bidding review team headed by Vice Gov. Julius Herrera already submitted its findings
to Gov. Erico Aumentado on Friday.
However,
no official statement had been made regarding the results of the review conducted
by Herrera together with provincial administrator Tomas Abapo Jr., Atty. John
Mitchell Boiser of the provincial legal office and provincial Internal Audit Service
head Jerome Man.
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