GARCIA
Ombudsman files case over 2004 award of GSIS eCards contract to Union Bank
One Cebu gubernatorial candidate Winston Garcia has been charged with graft over an allegedly anomalous contract that he approved back in 2004, when he was still president and general manager of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).
The Office of the Ombudsman filed graft charges against Garcia before the Sandiganbayan in connection with the awarding of a contract for an electronic membership card (eCard) project in 2004.
Ten other former GSIS executives were charged, namely, vice president Enriqueta Disuanco, senior vice president Benjamin Vivas Jr., board of trustees chair Hermogenes Concepcion Jr., and members Elmer Bautista, Fulgencio Factoran, Floriño Ibañez, Aida Nocete, Reynaldo Palmiery, Ellenita Tumala-Martinez and Leonora Vasquez-de Jesus.
The Ombudsman said the GSIS executives violated Section 3 (e) of Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act when it awarded the multi-million GSIS eCard project to the Union Bank of the Philippines of the Aboitiz Group in May 2004 “without complying with the requirements/procedures” provided by law.
Garcia, however, said he was not worried about the case.
“We are confident we will be vindicated before an impartial tribunal such as the Sandiganbayan,” he said in a statement.
Garcia said the case has been languishing in the Office of the Ombudsman for more than 10 years.
He noted that the Ombudsman resolved it only recently, or about six months before the 2016 elections.
Garcia, younger brother of Cebu 3rd district Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia, is challenging the reelection bid of Gov. Hilario Davide III of the ruling Liberal Party.
Garcia said the eCardsproject is the same one being implemented by incumbent GSIS officials despite their efforts to look for better terms from other banks.
“It should be noted, however, that in their haste to file this case, certain procedural and jurisdictional lapses were committed, which can be valid grounds for immediate dismissal,” said Garcia. He didn’t elaborate.
In the complaint, the Ombudsman said the former GSIS officials “took advantage of their official positions through manifest partiality or evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence.”
Under Section 3 (e) of R.A. No. 3019, a public official, in the discharge of his official functions, is prohibited from inflicting any undue injury or giving unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference to any person or entity.
The Ombudsman noted that the officials also violated Section 49 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 9184, or the Government Procurement Reform Act.
Ombudsman said the GSIS awarded the project to Union Bank “despite the fact the closing date for submission of bid proposals has not been closed and prior to the recommendation of the committee tasked to evaluate the proposals.”
According to GSIS, the eCard is “by far, the most innovative government-issued identification card today.”
“This is because the eCard Plus is not just a GSIS membership ID Card, it is also a GSIS transactional card, disbursement card, ATM Card, VISA debit card, hospitalization discount card, medicine discount card, and tuition discount card, among others,” the agency said.