The Ombudsman ordered the preventive suspension of six Department of Education (DepEd) officials who were linked to the controversial P427-million fortified noodle scam. Ombudsman Merceditas on Tuesday ordered the preventive suspension for six months without pay of:
Undersecretary and then Bids and Awards Committee Chairman Teodosio Sangil Jr.; Then BAC Vice-Chairperson Demetria Manuel; Then BAC-members Nanette Mamoransing, Macur Marohombsar and Artemio Capellan, Jr.; and Then Officer-in-Charge Ramon Bacani. The six persons face administrative charges of dishonesty, grave misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, gross neglect of duty, and violation of reasonable office rules and regulations, according to a news release on the Office of the Ombudsman website. The six persons were also charged with two counts of Violation of Sec 3(e) and (g) of RA 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act); Violation of Art II, Sec. 7 (2) of RA 9184 (Government Procurement Reform Act); and Rule III, Sec I of RA 7394 (Consumers Act of the Philippines). “The initial pieces of evidence submitted by the complainant preliminarily established some irregularities in the conduct of the respondents which, if duly proven, would constitute grave misconduct and dishonesty, and which sufficiently warranted their suspension pending the administrative adjudication of this case," the Ombudsman said in a seven-page order. Gutierrez also directed the Secretary of the Department of Education to implement the preventive suspension order immediately and to submit a compliance report within five days after receiving the order. The complaint filed by the Ombudsman’s Field Investigation Office (FIO) alleged that the six persons caused the anomalous and irregular procurement of an item, “Fortified Instant Noodles with Fresh Eggs" for the DepEd’s “Food for School Program" in 2007 and 2008. The complaint said in 2007, the respondents procured “Fortified Instant Noodles with Fresh Eggs" for P283,626,515.66. However, the item was not provided in the DepEd’s Annual Procurement Plan (APP), which specifically programmed two separate items, “Noodles and Eggs." In 2008, the respondents again procured the same item for P57,141,864, although the APP provided for “Noodles and Eggs." "Moreover, it dispenses with competitive public bidding, and instead resorted to an alternative method of procurement, repeat order," the Ombudsman said. The FIO likewise assailed the respondents' decision to award the contract to Jeverps Manufacturing Corporation, whose license to operate was suspended by the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) for failure: to conform with the test for nutritional requirements of its products, and to observe sanitation regulations in its factory. The FIO also noted that no consultations were made with the BFAD, the Department of Health, or other appropriate government agencies on the safety and health standards for the production of noodles and fresh eggs. – VVP, GMANews.TV 
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