COA, Ombudsman urged: Probe MP X-rays, P41 M fund

By Gina Dizon

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- The Commission on Audit (COA) and Office of the Ombudsman were asked to probe and audit use of P41 million maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) fund released to the Bontoc General Hospital here and X-ray machines and laparoscope purchased by the BoGH left uninstalled for three to five years after these were purchased.

In same petition that reached Interior and Local Government Sec. Eduardo Ano, inter agency task force (IATF) chairman and Health Sec. Francisco Duque, Secretaries and Undersecretaries of DILG and DOH and Ombudsman Chief Samuel Martirez, petitioner Juniper Dominguez urged the probe since supplies at the BoGH were “almost always empty.”

He questioned how the P41 million MOOE for 2020 was used to purchase drugs and medicine at P13.7 million, medical and surgical at P5 million, laboratory at P8 million and a P1.55 million expense for an X-ray and ultrasound and hemodialysis supplies at P2.36 million.

The petition cited an idle X-ray machine purchased Dec. 2, 2015 by the provincial government of Mountain Province remained uninstalled.

Said X-ray machine was the subject of an audit observation memorandum (AOM) issued by COA to Gov. Bonifacio Lacwasan, Provincial Health Office head Nenita Lizardo and Bontoc General Hospital chief Dr. Raquel Tannao Kanongkong on Jan. 20, 2020.

Earlier findings from the audit team of COA – Mountain Province bared the X-ray machine was not used for four years saying it was a "loss of opportunity."

Dominguez asked why the supplier did not install the machine when he was paid in full and the contract was consummated including installation.

Dominguez also asked for a special audit of funds released reportedly used to buy a non-functional X-ray machine.

The PHO purchased the machine in 2009 for the Paracelis emergency hospital.

The PEH eventually had the machine repaired and is now in use.

Still on X-ray machines, Dominguez in same petition asked why the X-ray delivered to Besao district hospital was not working when it was delivered in 2009.

A notice of suspension was then issued by State Auditor Hilario Dumasan on August 16, 2010 on the amount of P2,234,595  as the X-ray machine was not then operational.

Said notice was sent to former Gov. Leonard Mayaen and Provincial Accountant Theodore Marrero, Jordal Medical Systems as the contractor, PHO Nenita Lizardo, former X-ray Technician Nelly Madeo and Carmen Domawa, Inspection Officer.

Earlier in 2016, petitioner Salvador Liked forwarded an affidavit complaint to the office of the ombudsman against Provincial Accountant Theodore Marrero, former BAC chairman Paulo Pagteilan, Lizardo, Madeo, Domawa, BAC members and quality inspectors and  Jordal Medical Systems  for “grave abuse of  authority  and dishonesty,  violation of the grant and corrupt practices Act.” 

Liked said the complaint emanated from purchase and delivery of the X-ray machine at Besao Emergency Hospital.

In a letter forwarded to Ombudsman Martirez on Jan. 14, 2020, Liked followed up his affidavit complaint earlier forwarded to the office of the ombudsman then chaired by Chief Conchita Carpio-Morales.

Dominguez' petition questioned a P2 million laparoscope machine  purchased in December 12,  2016 that  remained unutilized until now.

Said laparoscope was the subject of an AOM issued by COA to Lacwasan, Lizardo and Kanongkong on January 17, 2020.

Earlier findings by an audit team of COA-Mountain Province December last year noted the purchased laparoscope supposedly to be used for abdominal surgery was not installed due to "lack of accessories".

This was followed up by a P300,000 purchase request for the missing accessories by Lizardo and eventually overturned by a request for realignment of said P300,000 by Kanongkong in 2018 as the needed funds accordingly was P3 million.

Dominguez asked who tested, inspected and accepted these machines- X-rays and laparoscope when these were delivered and who were the suppliers of these non-working equipment. 

In said petition, Dominguez questioned an alleged overprized ultrasound purchased sometime in 2019 without the signature of the chief of hospital.