Local Pharmacy Sues Capitol for PHP5.8M Unsettled Bill

Atong Botica, the local pharmacy who sued the Office of Ombudsman, have complained about the unsettled medicine bill worth of Php 5.8 million and another Php 197, 907 laboratory services since 2011.

Medicines and Laboratory Services from Atong Botica

The couple who owns the Atong Botica is identified as Marconi C. Llosa and Francisca Pitchina Ponce de Leon-Llosa. They confirmed that the Office of Ombudsman has not settled their bills for medical and laboratory services despite the constant collection of payment. The Office of Ombudsman, mainly Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo as the highest ranking official, was sued for supposed violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and for Conduct Prejudicial to the best interest of the service, dishonesty and grave misconduct.

Past Supplies and Service

The Atong Botica has given their supplies of medical drugs to the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital in the past and has given their laboratory services for their confined patients until the year 2013. The local pharmacy eventually stopped the services after the unpaid bills by the province.

Unlike the Office of Ombudsman, other congressmen and Local Government Units (LGU) were responsible for paying and settling their bills, therefore were given the medical supplies and other services.

If the Provincial Board settles the unpaid bills from 2011 – 2013, it would still not be enough to pass the standards of the Commission on Audit if purchased services and supplies in the previous years are to be considered.