Bacolod City Legal Officer Allan Zamora yesterday said he will file charges against Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella before the Office of the Ombudsman after the legal panel, tasked to investigate the information technology package given to the different public schools in the city, has concluded its probe.

The investigation was conducted because of the complaint RGMA Super Radyo anchorman Donard Nojas who said that records from the Department of Budget and Management show that 38 public schools in 2004 and 33 in 2005 each received an IT package consisting of only two computer units and accessories worth P400,000 respectively.

Nojas said Puentevella has allocated and spent P10.4 million in 2002, P15.2 million in 2004, and P13.2 million in 2005 from his Priority Development Assistance Fund for the purchase of IT equipment for various public elementary and high schools in Bacolod City.

Zamora said he will file charges against the solon for 71 counts of violation of the Anti Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Earlier, Department of Education regional director Victorino Tirol had denied that the IT package was overpriced as charged by Nojas.

He said instructional media is really expensive and these are not available in the Philippines since these are imported through a sole distributor.

Zamora said he tried to call up Merryland Publishing Corp., the alleged sole distributor, but there was no answer.

He said many are furnishing his office with documents or evidences against the solon.

Tirol said DepEd is responsible for the bidding of the IT learning package and that the Office of Puentevella had nothing to do with the bidding and awarding of the project.*CGS

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