Bercede washes hands in Mandaue ambulance mess

Local

MANDAUE City Vice Mayor Glenn Bercede said he had no involvement in the negotiations for the purchase of two ambulances worth about P6 million, saying his role as acting mayor at the time was limited to signing documents and the payment check.

The Mandaue City Legal Office (CLO) is recommending legal action against several officials and former personnel over the purchase after finding that the ambulances allegedly lacked the required Official Receipt and Certificate of Registration (OR/CR).

Bercede said the documents had already gone through the required offices before reaching him for his signature. He said he assumed the transaction had been properly reviewed once the papers were complete and countersigned by the city administrator.

“Mupirma na ko, di nako maato og basa tanan…Di na mabasa og tagsa-tagsa, ang among tan awon once naay countersign sa administrator unya ang papeles kompleto, once maabot sa opisina nga kompleto,” Bercede said.

He also said he had no knowledge of the registration problems involving the ambulances and maintained that he was not involved in the purchase negotiations.

City Legal Officer Atty. Erwin Rommel Heyrosa said the ambulances were purchased in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and delivered in 2021. The city had already paid about P6 million for the vehicles.

The ambulances allegedly arrived without their OR/CR, preventing the city from registering and using them for health services.

“Nahug nga nawari-wari ang kwarta sa atong gobyerno kay since 2020. For 6 years wala gyud ni siya maggamit,” Heyrosa said.

The CLO began its investigation after Mayor Thadeo Jovito “Jonkie” Ouano issued a memorandum on Feb. 20, 2026, directing the office to determine who may be liable.

The investigation also followed an Audit Observation Memorandum from the Commission on Audit.

Heyrosa said the legal office found that the winning bidder, identified as MFR and owned by Vicente Chan and Edwin Blancas, was allegedly not the registered owner of the vehicles it delivered.

“Maong di sila ka deliver sa ORCR kay dili man registered owner ang winning bidder,” Heyrosa said.

The CLO identified officials involved in accepting and paying for the ambulances, including Engineer Marivic Cabigas, former head of the Department of General Services, and Bercede, who was acting mayor when the check was issued.

Heyrosa said the concerned offices allegedly accepted the vehicles despite incomplete documentation and failed to conduct sufficient due diligence to determine whether the delivery was complete.

The CLO is recommending a civil case against the bidder for damages and restitution.

Under the proposed mutual restitution, the city would return the ambulances while seeking reimbursement of the approximately P6 million it paid.

For officials and former personnel who may be held liable, Heyrosa said the legal office is recommending appropriate action, including referring the matter to the Office of the Ombudsman for possible criminal proceedings.

The preliminary investigation report will be submitted to Ouano, who will determine whether formal charges should be filed.

Bercede said he would face any legal action filed against him and seek assistance from his lawyer.(MyTVCebu)