House probes 'left-to-rust' heavy equipment worth P150-M in Tayabas

MANILA – The House Committee on Public Accounts conducted an inquiry Monday into the alleged anomalous procurement of 13 units of heavy equipment worth P150 million in Tayabas, Quezon.

Committee chair and Abang Lingkod Party-list Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano led the probe sought under House Resolution 1657 filed by Deputy Majority Leader and ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo.

"Initially, nakita natin na talagang may problema sa procurement, pero wala pang final. Hindi pa ito conclusive (Initially, we found that there really is a problem in the procurement, but nothing is final yet. It is not yet conclusive)," Paduano said in an ambush interview.

He said he will schedule another set of hearings to further investigate on the importation of heavy equipment for the implementation of a comprehensive community road network development program in Tayabas.

Paduano assailed the Commission on Audit (COA) for their lack of action in the questioned procurement of heavy equipment.

"Kayo ang mandated at kayo ang dapat sumasagot dito. Kayo ang inaasahan ng gobyerno (You are the one mandated and you should be responding to this. The government relies on you)," Paduano told the COA officials.

Paduano also cautioned Tayabas Mayor Maria Lourdes Pontioso for claiming that the investigation was believed to be politically motivated and the handiwork of her political nemesis.

"I caution you, Mayor, wala pong pulitika dito. Hindi ko kayo kilala. Wala akong kakilala sa inyo. Ang iniimbestigahan natin dito ay ang interes ng mga taga-Tayabas (there is no politics here. I don't know you. I know nobody among you. What we are investigating here is the interest of the people of Tayabas)," Paduano said.

In his sponsorship, Tulfo said the anomalous procurement was referred to him by residents and some officials of Tayabas, prompting him to file the resolution.

"We received a report that heavy equipment approximately worth a staggering P150 million were procured by the Tayabas LGU (local government unit) without complying with government procurement laws, rules, and regulations," Tulfo said.

"The heavy equipment were allegedly delivered to and fully paid for by the LGU despite discrepancies in its documents, without prior inspection and acceptance, and despite defects and noncompliance with the specifications of the project," Tulfo said.

Tulfo also said the equipment have not been used and are left to rust, showing a blatant waste of public funds.

"If there are loopholes in the government procurement system, we have to find ways here to plug them so they may never be abused again," Tulfo noted.

Quezon City 4th District Rep. Marvin Rillo also assailed the local government of Tayabas for allowing the transaction and paying the said amount without inspection.

Tayabas officials, led by Pontioso, maintained that the procurement was above board. (PNA)