I’m not a thief

ROXAS CITY, Capiz – “Indi ako makawat“(I’m not a thief). I’m living in a modest way.”

This was the statement of Carmen Del Rosario-Andrade, sister of Capiz Gov. Antonio del Rosario, in reaction to the criminal complaint filed by a certain Essex Quintia before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas after the provincial government hired her security agency.

In a radio interview, Andrade admitted she owns the Perlite Security Agency that was tapped to secure the Capiz Provincial Capitol, the Capiz Government and Business Center, the Capiz Provincial Part and the Governor’s Mansion at Lanot village here.

But she said the deal was legally consummated.

Andrade said she was hired by her brother Gov. del Rosario as sports consultant at the Villareal Stadium here.

But she refused to comment on the Ombudsman case saying she will answer this in proper forum when she receives a copy of the complaint.

Gov. Rosario is facing graft and corruption charges after the provincial government hired a private security firm owned by Andrade.

In a complaint filed before the Office of the Ombudsman for the Visayas on December 17, 2018, Quintia of Poblacion Ilaya Dao, Capiz urged the office to investigate “the anomalous and illegal” contract of security guard services entered into by del Rosario with Perlite Security Agency.

Quintia said the governor is criminally and administratively liable for violating Republic Act No. 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) in relation to RA 9184 (Government Procurement Reform Act).

Quintia also asked the Ombudsman to preventively suspend del Rosario while his complaint is being investigated.

The complainant further alleged that del Rosario “entered into a contract for security services, for and in behalf of the provincial government of Capiz, without the required public bidding and with a private entity owned by his family and or his sister.”

Quintia enclosed in his complaint a document caption “Contract of Security Guard Services” with Perlite Security Agency executed sometime in July 2017 by Del Rosario and one SPO2 Renato Olac, the firm’s security staff director for administration.

But a scrutiny of PNP records and Perlite’s license to operate indicated that the owner of the firm is the sister of the governor.

The documents also revealed that the listed office address of the security agency is Espacio Verde Resort in Brgy. Dayao here, which is owned by the governor.

“The act of Gov. Del Rosario in entering into this contract without the consent or authorization of the provincial board of the province of Capiz and without complying with RA 9184 was illegal and inimical to the interest of the provincial government and the public because if the security agency underwent a public bidding, a much lower contract price could have been obtained and the provincial government could have saved a lot of money,” the complaint added.

Under section 3, Article 1 and Section 10, Article IV of RA 9184, all procurements made by the local government units are required to undergo a public competitive bidding, including security services, which is expressly covered by and included in the terms “good” as defined in Section 5(h), Article 1 of the said law.

“On the other hand, entering on behalf of the government, into any contract or transactions that is manifested and grossly disadvantageous is considered as among the corrupt practices of public officers under Section 3, RA 3019 which is punishable as a criminal offense,” the complaint adde.

The governor has yet to comment on the issue.