By Rjay Zuriaga Castor
Mayor Samuel Gumarin of Buenavista, Guimaras, along with the town’s vice mayor and several Sangguniang Bayan (SB) members, is facing administrative complaints at the Office of the Ombudsman.
The officials implicated alongside Gumarin include Vice Mayor Cyril Beltran, Association of Barangay Captains President Rommel Infante, Sangguniang Kabataan President Dave Van Bartolome, and SB members Arthur Cartel Jr., Edgar Gallo, Rubin Magno, Valentine Talabero, and Rex Fernandez.
They are charged with grave abuse of authority, grave misconduct, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service over the procurement of a P2.6 million second-hand water tanker that arrived in mid-August.
The complaint was filed by SB member Vincent Pascal de Asis at the Ombudsman in Iloilo City on November 8.
In a statement, Atty. Raymund C. Moderes, liaison officer for Mayor Samuel T. Gumarin, said no comment will be made until the official complaint is received.
“We cannot, for the moment, comment on the matter as we have yet to receive the copy of the complaint,” Moderes said, adding assurance that the purchase adhered to procurement laws and regulations, with the process sanctioned by the Commission on Audit.
He emphasized that the procurement was conducted transparently and within legal bounds.
The purchase of the water tanker, which has become a focal point of debate, was earlier defended by SB De Asis, who acknowledged its necessity and practical value for the community.
“Mayor Gumarin and the rest of the Sanggunian remain committed to focusing on their primary mission—serving the people of Buenavista,” Moderes said.
According to the complaint obtained by Daily Guardian, the controversy began with an SB resolution approved on June 28, 2024, authorizing Gumarin to enter into a “negotiated procurement” for the water tanker.
The SB justified the purchase as an emergency measure in response to an El Niño-induced drought.
De Asis questioned the urgency of the purchase and the transparency of the procurement process.
He noted that the state weather bureau declared the start of the rainy season on May 29, 2024, which, he argued, undermines the emergency basis for the purchase.
De Asis also pointed out that an existing water tanker, provided by Gumarin and fueled with town funds, was already being used during the dry season.
He alleged that the procurement lacked official documentation proving water shortages in various barangays.
De Asis highlighted that Gallo, who proposed the purchase, admitted there were “only verbal and no official reports” from the Municipal Disaster Risk and Management Office (MDRRMO) supporting claims of water shortages.
During the resolution’s deliberation, MDRRMO head Myrna Guillen stated the need for a new water tanker due to the ongoing need for water in some barangays.
Vice Mayor Beltran and ABC President Infante defended the procurement, asserting that certain barangays continued to face water shortages despite the rainy season.
De Asis, however, argued that only two barangays requested water deliveries, both linked to fiesta celebrations rather than genuine emergencies.
“No amount of evidence was presented by proponent SB Gallo to justify the purchase of a water tanker through negotiated procurement, considering there was no MDRRMO report indicating an emergency that posed imminent danger to life or property or in cases of calamities or disasters,” De Asis emphasized.
He stated that the actions of the mayor and the legislative body showed “a flagrant disregard of established rules” requiring a proper assessment and evaluation to confirm the need for emergency procurement.
