Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 28) — The Ombudsman ordered the filing of multiple criminal charges against 25 Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) officials for their involvement in ₱68 million in irregular disbursements and procurement of supplies in 2014.
The following are ordered indicted before the Sandiganbayan for violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act:
Ex-Commandant Rodolfo Isorena
Commo. William Melad
Commo. Aaron Reconquista
RAdmn. Cecil Chen
Cdrs. John Esplana
William Arquero
Jude Thaddeus Besinga
Roben De Guzman
Enrico Efren Evangelista, Jr.
Ferdinand Panganiban
Joselito Quintas
Ivan Roldan
Rommel Supangan
George Ursabia, Jr.
Ferdinand Velasco
Wilfred Burgos
Allen Dalangin
Capt. Joeven Fabul
Capt. Angelito Gil
Capt. Angel Lobaton IV
Capt. Christopher Villacorte
Capt. Ramon Lopez
Lt. Mark Larsen Mariano
Ens. Mark Franklin Lim II
Accounting Head Rogelio Caguioa
Isorena, Esplana, Fabul, Caguioa, Arquero, Lopez, and Quintas are also facing charges for violation of the Government Procurement Reform Act.
In an 83-page resolution, the investigating panel found irregularities in transaction of cellular cards: Arquero was allowed a total budget of ₱930,300, Lopez and Quintas were allowed ₱4,239,710, and Supangan was allowed ₱899,700.
There was also a “nefarious practice” of splitting purchases to several transactions to avoid public bidding. For example, purchases of regular office supplies, which was made daily or at close intervals, were split into ₱1-million purchases from February to May 2014.
“In sum, the Office found that the respondents have acted in their individual official capacities with manifest partiality, evident bad faith, and gross inexcusable negligence in using public funds to purchase cellcards, hardware, office, construction, and IT supplies such as moleskine journals, artline fabric markers, pilot ballpens, Epson styluses, colored printer ink, wireless optical mouses, energizers, paints, screwdrivers, wireless routers, among other things, without public bidding,” the Ombudsman said.
