Printing office chief, 5 others dismissed from government

MANILA, Philippines - National Printing Office (NPO) director Emmanuel Andaya has been dismissed from government service after the Office of the Ombudsman found him guilty of the administrative offense of grave misconduct.

Dismissed with him were printing operations chief Josefina San Pedro Samson, chief administrative officer Sylvia Banda, printing operations chief Antonio Sillona, budget officer Bernadette Lagumen and printing office assistant chief Ma. Gracia de Leon Enriquez.

They were also imposed the accessory penalties of perpetual disqualification from holding public office, cancellation of eligibility, bar from taking civil service examinations and forfeiture of retirement benefits.

He or she would be fined the equivalent of a year’s salary if any of them can no longer be dismissed because of separation from government service, according to the anti-graft agency.

Andaya, Banda, Sillona, Lagumen and Enriquez were earlier suspended preventively by the Sandiganbayan, where they are facing trial for graft.

The criminal and administrative charges against them arose from their alleged involvement in the questionable grant of a P3.6-million government contract to JI Printers Inc. in 2011 through negotiated procurement.