Samar congresswoman Tan to face trial for P69M medicine scam: Ombudsman

February 23, 2017

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales has ordered the filing of informations for graft and Malversation against former Samar Governor, now second district representative, Milagrosa Tan and six individuals for their involvement in the anomalous procurement of medicines totaling P69,040,514.84.

Tan will face trial for five counts of violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act No. 3019); three counts of violation of Section 3(g) of R.A. No. 3019; and five counts of Malversation of Public Funds, a statement by the Office of the Ombudsman said Thursday.

Standing as her co-accused are Bienvenido Sabanecio, Jr. (Provincial Treasurer), Francasio Detosil (Provincial Accountant), Rolando Montejo (Administrative Officer), Ariel Yboa (OIC-General Service Office), George Abrina (Supply Officer); and Roselyn Larce, representative of supplier, Zybermed Medi Pharma, a Pasig-based company.

In its complaint, the Field Investigation Office said  the province of Samar, thru Tan, has been making extravagant purchases of drugs and medicines from Zybermed using its multi-million peso health fund.

In a series of Annual Audit Reports and Audit Observation Memorandum the Commission on Audit (COA) noted the following irregularities:  steady unexplainable increase in the year-end inventory balance of drugs and medicines from 2005 to 2007;  the accuracy of the year-end inventory balance could not be determined due to lack of monitoring and inadequate record-keeping; intended beneficiaries/end-users of medicines could not be ascertained due to lack of distributions lists.

The COA issued Notices of Disallowance in August 2007 for the irregular payments made by Tan, et. al. for the procurement of drugs and medicines totalingP64,385,534.30 and dental supplies worth P4,654,980.54.

The COA stated that the transactions were “disallowed for being unnecessary and non-responsive to the exigencies of the service.” DMS