Graft raps filed vs Former Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez over P1.2-billion advertising deal

Former tourism secretary Ramon Jimenez has been filed with charges of graft and corruption by the National Bureau of investigation, along with some other officials, for the “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” campaign that cost about P1.2 billion.

Former tourism secretary Ramon Jimenez / Photo from Philstar

The case was filed on May 2018 to Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, saying that Jimenez violated the anti-graft and corrupt practices act.

This charges were filed because Jimenez, along with a former assistant secretary, and other officials, awarded P200 million to Dentsu Advertising Agency in 2012, and extended it twice in 2013, without allowing it to go through public bidding.

A bidding is usually necessary for government projects to assure that there is no foul play or corruption that will happen.

More than this, NBI director Dante Gierran also asked the Ombusdman to charge all DOT officials who are still in office of gross negligence of duty and serious dishonesty.

“The extension of the ad contract twice in 2013 by Jimenez and his co-accused proved a conspiracy to circumvent the government’s procurement laws and processes,” said Gierran.

He said that the Special Bids and Awards Committee (SBAC) has tagged Dentsu Advertising Agency as “ineligible” for failing to submit required documents, but DOT awarded the ad campaign contract to them anyway.

Then tourism secretary Albert Lim was the one who tagged them and said that one of the documents they failed to submit was their income tax returns and audited financial statement.

The other people who were charged were DOT undersecretary Benito Bengzon Jr., and lawyer Guiller Asido who was former chief operating officer of the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA).

The NBI added that Jimenez knew about their ineligibility and ignored the warning of the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel.

Sources: Philstar and and The Daily Sentry

Comments

Japan vows to support Duterte admin's infra program

Photo from PhilStar TOKYO, Japan — Japan has vowed to continue supporting the Duterte administration's infrastructure and peace and development efforts and to further strengthen its ties with the Philippines. Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo said Japan is proud to be the largest partner of 'Build, Build, Build, the Philippines' P8 trillion multi-year infrastructure program. "We will continue to strongly support the sustainable economic development of the Philippines through assistance in quality infrastructure," Abe said after his meeting with Duterte here last Friday. Japan has vowed to provide $9 billion to enhance the Philippines' infrastructure network and to support other key projects. The East Asian country has also committed about 25 billion yen for the development of Mindanao's road network, vocational training facilities and equipment. Japan is the top provider of official development assistance (ODA) to the Philippines

WORD WAR: Aquino asked Cayetano to 'google’ all answers to his questions

Former President Benigno Aquino III and Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, composite photo from GMA Network and laonlaan.blogspot.com The continuing word war between former President Noynoy Aquino and Department of Foreign Secretary (DFA) Alan Peter Cayetano has filled social media with riddles and word plays, including ‘hairstyles’ only to prove whose administration poses the appropriate TRANSPARENCY in its dealings with Beijing on the disputed waters. To recall, Cayetano challenged Aquino on Tuesday to ask former DFA Secretary Albert Del Rosario of how well he handled ‘transparency’ with China under his watch. Cayetano’s latest remark against Aquino came in response to the latter’s suggestion that their methods of disclosure concerning Scarborough Shoal should be as “transparent as his hairstyle”. In an open letter dedicated to Aquino on Friday, Cayetano responded, "While we both lost some of our hair, your administration lost control of Scarborough and a

UST alumnus says panic due to inflation is because of false advertising of prices

UST alumnus and social media influencer Mark Lopez recently took to Facebook after he saw a lot of complaints from the Filipino people about the rising prices of good and products due to inflation. Mark Lopez / Photo from Facebook Reports have recently shown that there is a 6.4 rise in prices of products, goods and services in the Philippines. Lopez shared photos of grains of rice showing that they cost P120. The photos were allegedly taken in a store that sold rice in Pagadian City. He said that what causes panic is that people think that the P120 is the cost of 1 kilo of rice. But what he says is that actually the P120 is equal to a "salop" or 2.5 kilos. He said that this makes it P48 per kilo. " So yang P120 PER SALOP eh ang katumbas nyan ay P48 PER KILO pala ," he said. Screengrab from Facebook Lopez adds that this kind of advertising from market seller is actually what is causing panic towards the people and hatred towards the Duterte adminis

Partner for Change PHILIPPINES

Search This Blog