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Friday, March 29, 2024

Ombudsman files charges vs Durano, 5 others

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The Ombudsman has filed graft charges against former Tourism Secretary Joseph Felix Mari “Ace” Durano over the “conceptualization and development” of the Tourism department’s  2009 wall calendar allegedly without public bidding.

Durano allegedly violated Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act when he entered into a memorandum of agreement with PDP Digital Inc. worth P2.7 million in October 2008 for the purpose, based on the charge sheet filed by Graft Investigation and Prosecution Officer III Maria Vida Hechanova at the Sandiganbayan on March 22.

Durano’s co-accused include former Department of Tourism Undersecretary Oscar Palabyab and then-Bids and Awards Committee officials Grave Yoro, Eduardo Jarque Jr., Evelyn Cajigal, and Adriana Flor.

The Ombudsman said Durano unilaterally signed the MOA after issuing a certification that picked  out PDP Digital Inc. as the Department of Tourism’s supplier on Dec. 2, 2008.

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The Ombudsman said the BAC then concurred with the certification of Durano “without first conducting public bidding or industry survey to determine the supply source prior to the commencement of the procurement process.”

A bail of P30,000 has been recommended each of the accused.

The case signed by Ombudsman Samuel Martires on Jan. 29 has been raffled off to the Sandiganbayan’s Seventh Division.

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