Loboc Mayor Leon Calipusan appeared unfazed in the wake of accusations that he shepherded the purchase of one unit backhoe which was found to be overpriced. “I am willing to be investigated if the allegation holds water”, the Loboc mayor was quoted as saying in an interview last week over Station DYRD’s Inyong Alagad. Mayor Calipusan was haled to the Ombudsman-Visayas in a criminal complaint filed by V-Mayor Luisito Digal who has since been a bitter political enemy after the Loboc chief executive launched his candidacy as third district congressman. Both Calipusan and Digal were team mates in the 2010 elections until their falling out months ago. Digal is rooting for Calipusan’s opponent incumbent Cong. Arthur Yap. Their latest skirmish before the anti-graft body was the second criminal complaint. The first criminal case filed by Digal against his nemesis was for malicious mischief and grave threats. The incident involved the alleged threatening remarks of Calipusan against Digal inside the latter’s office.

In his complaint before the Ombudsman, V-Mayor Digal alleged that Mayor Calipusan violated the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, malversation of public funds or property and Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards of Public Officials and Employees in the purchase of one unit backhoe or excavator. With its brand, the Swedish- made Volvo, documents furnished the Ombudsman by the complainant showed that the brand unit excavator was priced at P8,448,000.00. Subsequent investigation by Digal in the heavy equipment market showed that the Volvo excavator bought by the municipality in December 2011 was valued only at P5,500,000.00 as confided to him by a friend identified as Engr. Dennis Berenguer of LEDA Construction. The friend showed to Digal a price quotation from Civic Merchandizing, Inc., pegging the price of P5,500,000.00 of exactly the same model as the one delivered to Loboc by the supplier identified as Civic Merchandizing, Inc. The same company gave the price quotation very much lower than the municipality of Loboc had paid for the same equipment. According to Digal, the alleged overprice, was a clear manipulation of the unit price when the municipality of Loboc purchased the equipment to the damage and prejudice of the people of the municipality and to the taxpaywers in general.

SURPRISE

In reaction, Mayor Calipusan expressed surprise why V-Mayor Digal brought his charges to the Ombudsman when he knew that the purchase was the result of a competitive bidding. He said the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) approved the purchase and the municipality was only the recipient of its decision as to the pricing quotation that won the bid. The mayor said if the v-mayor suspected that there was collusion between him and the members of the BAC , this can not be possible because its chairman is the cousin of Digal. However, Calipusan said, if indeed the BACS erred in accepting the purchase price, the municipality is willing to refund whatever supposed overprice the purchase entailed.