The National Bureau of Investigation has summoned several personalities to shed light on the alleged anomalous deals that the National Printing Office had entered with three private companies.
The NBI said the probe is set on April 3 at the NBI’s Anti-Fraud Division.
NBI Deputy Director for Investigation Services Vicente De Guzman said the NBI has subpoenaed NPO officer-in-charge Rolando Calauag, as well as former members of the NPO Bids and Awards Committee.
The former BAC members are former BAC chairperson Sherwin Prose Castañeda, Ma. Cristina Morales, Michelle Japson, Benedict Sagun, Amado Valsorable and BAC Secretariat members Teres Tobias, Dina Badua, Winon Balmores, Wilma Delansig, Federico Israel Ramos III and Jennifer Tomas.
The NBI conducted an investigation after a request from the Presidential Communications Operations Office was sent to look into the deals which involved printing jobs for the Social Security System.
The NBI said the NPO already has a P74-million contract with Western Visayas Printing Corp. but it still granted work orders to three other firms—Best Forms Security Printer for P34 million, Tri-Print Work for P27 million, and Metro Color Co. for P15 million.
The PCOO, through Communications Undersecretary for Legal Affairs Enrique Tandan, conducted an investigation which found “sufficient basis” to refer the matter to the NBI for further investigation and possible filing of criminal charges before the Department of Justice.
Tandan said their investigation uncovered several irregularities and violations of the Government Procurement Reform Act (Republic Act 9184) and the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (RA 3019).
