Former DA regional officials found guilty of graft for deal P0.40 over budget
THE ANTI-GRAFT court found former officials of the Department of Agriculture (DA) guilty of corruption for granting a water system materials supply contract to a company whose bid offer was P0.40 higher than the approved budget. “Wherefore, accused Roger C. Chio (DA Regional Executive Director), Romulo S. Palcon (DA Regional Technical Director), Alma B. Mahinay (Finance Division Chief) and Godofredo A. Ramos (Administrative Officer V) are found guilty beyond reasonable doubt of violation of Sec 3(e) of RA No. 3019,” reads part of the decision promulgated on January 30. The contract that was granted to PZA Trading, Inc. amounted to P2,591,435.40, which is P0.40 higher than the approved budget of P2,591,435.00. The accused argued that the Special Bids and Awards Committee Secretariat “erroneously omitted” the P0.40 in the approved budget and believed that it was due to a “mere typographical error.” The Sandiganbayan, however, ruled that the awarding constitutes “gross inexcusable negligence at the very least.” “The difference may be miniscule, but there is no question that P2,591,435.40 is greater than P2,591,435.00,” it added. The four are sentenced to a minimum of six years imprisonment and one month to a maximum of eight years, with “perpetual disqualification” from holding public office. — Genshen L. Espedido
Distor named NBI officer-in-charge
President Rodrigo R. Duterte has appointed Eric B. Distor, the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) assistant director for Intelligence Service, as the agency’s officer-in-charge effective February 23. He will hold the post “until a replacement is appointed or until otherwise directed by the President. He replaces Director Dante A. Gierran who retired last week upon reaching the mandatory age of 65. The NBI, an attached agency of the Department of Justice, is authorized by law to investigate crimes and other offenses, assist in investigations, provide technical help to all prosecuting and law enforcement agencies, and serves as the “national clearing house of criminal records and other information for use of all prosecuting and law enforcement entities,” among other mandates. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas
NBI files more cases vs drug lord Espinosa, Lim
THE NATIONAL Bureau of Investigation (NBI) filed a drug trafficking complaint against self-confessed drug lord Rolan “Kerwin” E. Espinosa, businessman Peter Go Lim, and five others over transactions in Cebu City inside a rehabilitation center in 2008 to 2011. In the 11-page complaint, the state agents said the seven conspired in trading and trafficking shabu (methamphetamine) in Cebu City through cellphones, electronic money transfers and bank deposits at the Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center, where Mr. Espinosa was then detained. Others recommended to be charged are Wu Tuan Yuan or Peter Co, Lovely Adam Impal, Melvin Gerpacio, Ryan Diaz, and Reynaldo C. Diaz. NBI said that based on the sworn statement of a certain Marcelo Adoro, Messrs. Co and Lim and Ms. Impal were the main shabu suppliers of Mr. Espinosa. The bureau last month filed drug-related charges against Mr. Espinosa for drug trafficking in Eastern Visayas. Mr. Lim, who has a standing arrest warrant, is at-large. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas
