Beleaguered NPO chief cites reforms
THE National Printing Office (NPO) is strictly implementing reforms and is abiding by the Republic Act 984 or the Government Procurement Reform Act.
This was stressed by Carlos Bathan, Director IV of the NPO, in response to the charges filed against him and other officials of the agency in connection with printing of ballots for the 2022 national elections.
In a statement, Bathan expressed disappointment over the people behind the charges whom he said are the same people who disapproved of the reforms being executed in the NPO.
“It is unfortunate that NPO is now under attack from the people who resist reforms. We are now being maligned by people who have malicious intentions and who want to maintain the old ways of defrauding the government through questionable schemes such as entering to a joint venture agreement as opined by no less than the former Solicitor General Jose Calida as illegal,” Bathan said.
“We are now strictly implementing reforms that will benefit NPO such as conducting open and competitive biddings according to the provisions of RA 9184,” he added.
Earlier, Bathan and NPO officials Engr. Benedicto Cabral, Yolanda Marcelo, and Leah Dela Cruz were charged with plunder, graft and corruption, grave misconduct, and gross neglect of duty before the Office of the Ombudsman.
The same cases were filed against Holy Family Printing Corporation President Leopoldo Gomez.
The accuser, Task Force Kasanag-International (TFK) President John Chiong alleged that the NPO agreed to refund the P197 million income of the government from a deal with the Holy Family Printing Corp. for the printing of ballots for the May 2022 national and local elections.
But according to Bathan, , the present leadership of NPO has not yet signed nor authorized any transaction bidding or replicated the questionable joint venture scheme.
“Hence, the case filed by Mr John Chiong is grossly unfair and malicious. I have already instructed our legal officers to address this and request the immediate dismissal of this nuisance case,” Bathan stressed.
The official already asked the legal team of the NPO to look into this matter and file counter charges if warranted against them.
Bathan added that he already instructed the legal team that all previous contracts and agreements of NPO be reviewed and if there are violations, the administration will hold the abusive personnel accountable including those outside NPO who are extorting money from the printers, contributing to the malpractices.
