2 CENRO officials indicted for graft

CEBU, Philippines - For issuing clearance to transport forest products to two shippers despite the fact that the products were misdeclared in the bill of lading, the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas has indicted officials of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office for graft.

Graft investigator Portia Suson said although CENRO officer in charge Richard Abella and forester Nolito Lapinig had knowledge as to the truthfulness of the products they still issued the clearance.

“..Lapinig, in such capacity and committing the offense in relation to office, with evident bad faith, did then and there unlawfully and criminally release 17,624.20 board feet of lumber valued at P599,222.80 by issuing clearance to transport forest products to shipper despite knowledge that the said products were misdeclared in the pertinent bill of lading as assorted flour,” the charge sheet read.

A bill of lading is a document acknowledging the receipt of a shipment of goods.

Suson added the transportation of lumber was not supported by documents.

The shipper was Anisah Radia Enterprises and the consignee was DTS Lumber and Construction Supply, Cebu City.

For Abella, Suson likewise said the latter issued the same clearance to the shipper and prompted the release of 15,000 linear meters of unsplit rattan poles valued at P265,000 despite his knowledge that the said products were misdeclared in the bill of lading as corn grains.

Suson recommended a bail of P90,000 for Lapinig for his temporary liberty for three counts of anti-graft while Abella’s bail was set at P30,000.

Earlier, the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas dismissed the case filed against them by Gaudioso Rafols for insufficient evidence.

However, upon review of the tanodbayan, the dismissal of the case was modified and the filing of charges against Lapinig and Abella was recommended while the dismissal of the case against Raul Pasoc, Domingo Sordilla and Leonardo delos Reyes was affirmed.

“…the variation and misdeclaration is undeniable considering that the shipment of rattan poles released by respondent Abella was declared in its bill of lading as corn grains; while the shipment of lumber released by respondent Lapinig was declared in its bill of lading as flour,” resolution reads.

The tanodbayan said with that foregoing statement there is no doubt that the shipments of rattan poles and lumber is illegal “due to fraudulent misrepresentation with intent to prejudice the Government of the Republic of the Philippines.” -(FREEMAN)