Palace dismisses Iloilo prosecutor for graft

The Office of the President recently upheld a resolution of the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) recommending the dismissal of an Iloilo prosecutor for graft.

In a decision dated Nov. 28, the PAGC ordered the dismissal from service of City Prosecutor Efrain Baldago, his forfeiture of leave credits, retirement benefits and disqualification for reemployment in the government service.

The PAGC found Baldago guilty of violating Section 7(d) of Republic Act No. 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

The case stemmed from a complaint filed by Jose C. Demontano against Baldago for graft and corruption.

Demontano knew Baldago when he sought his help in expediting his cousin’s pending case at the prosecutor’s office.

While the case was pending, Baldago allegedly asked Demontano for financial assistance in the amounts of P200,000, P250,000.00, and P250,000 on different occasions in order to finance his sugar cane plantation.

At first, Demontano’s cousin’s case was being prioritized but after Baldago allegedly received the money, he stopped attending to the case.

“The complainant likewise asserted that during those times that he was extending favors, his pending case went on smoothly and he was also given preference in seeing Baldago to discuss the case. However, after receipt of the financial assistance, developments of the case came to a halt,” the PAGC said in a statement.

The agency said they have evidence that Baldago indeed solicited the amount of P250,000 from the complainant while the complainant’s case was docked before Baldago’s office.

The PAGC said this was a clear violation of RA 6713, Section 7(d) which states that, “Public officials and employees shall not solicit or accept directly or indirectly, any gift, gratuity, favor, entertainment, loan or anything of monetary value from any person in the course of their official duties or in connection with any operation being regulated by, or any transaction which may be affected by the functions of their office.”

PAGC Chairman Constancia de Guzman said public servants should always be mindful of their actions so they can serve as role models of integrity and moral character.

“We should make sure that our service is beyond reproach and with complete accountability, especially since our country is consistently being put in a bad light, reinforcing the negative perception of the public in the fight against graft and corruption,” she said.

De Guzman issued this appeal in the light of the Philippines’ inclusion among the top 10 countries with the highest level of petty bribery.

The PAGC said Nikola Sandoval of Transparency International-Berlin told them that the Global Corruption Barometer 2007 does not rank countries but asks people about opinions and experiences of the situation with regard to corruption in their own county.

“We do admit that there is a problem. Institutions like PAGC are here because we want to solve the problem, but then, the gains and little victories in the fight against corruption should also be taken into consideration as numerous efforts are being done to at least make a dent in the fight. Reforms in the system and penalizing offenders, just like the dismissal of City Prosecutor Baldago, are clear signals that the government is sincere in solving this problem,” De Guzman said.