Gwen Garcia, 11 others face charges before Sandiganbayan

GARCIA (CDN FILE PHOTO)

Cebu third district Rep. and former governor Gwendolyn Garcia and 11 others will be charged before the Sandiganbayan over the alleged anomalous procurement of the architectural and engineering design, various civil and other works for the P830-million Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) in 2006.

According to a statement posted on the Ombudsman’s website on Tuesday, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales ordered the filing of 11 counts of violation of Section 3 (e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act No. 3019) against Garcia.

Members of the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), namely  Eduardo Habin, Roy Salubre, Cristina Gianco, Adolfo Quiroga, Necias Vicoy, Jr., Emme Gingoyon, Glenn Baricuatro, Bernard Calderon, Marino Martinquilla and Eulogio Pelayre were slapped with multiple counts of graft.

Also included in the charge sheet is Willy Te, vice-president of WT Construction Inc. (WTCI).

Among the violations that the officials allegedly committed were the illegal resort to the alternative method of procurement for the P16.8 million architectural and engineering design contract, P307million combined structural steel contracts,   P59 million adjacent/contiguous works, P7.5 million l cladding contract, P1.8million structural cabling system, P3.6 million fire protection/sprinkler system, P3.4million glass works, and P26.5 million airconditioning contracts.

No public bidding was undertaken by Garcia et. al. for these contracts totaling P 425.6million.

The Ombudsman also cited procurement documents which show that the contract with WTCI was signed on  June 22, 2006 and that one day after, on June 23, 2006, Garcia approved the disbursement voucher authorizing the payment to the contractor for 100 percent of work accomplished totaling P43.2 million. Garcia also signed the certificates of acceptance and completion for the project on the same date.