Ombudsman graft investigators certified as fraud examiners by USAID

MANILA, Philippines - Seven graft investigators of the Office of the Ombudsman have been declared by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as Certified Fraud Examiners (CFEs).

Francis Euston Acero of the Preliminary Investigation and Administrative Bureau; Graft Prevention and Corruption Officer Czarina May Altez of the Public Assistance and Corruption Prevention Office; Associate Graft Investigation Officer (AGIO) Alfredo Bentulan Jr. of the Office of Legal Affairs; and John Felix of the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon lead the list of the anti-graft agency’s new fraud probe experts.

Completing the list are Emerita Francia of the Preliminary Investigation, Administrative Adjudication and Monitoring Bureau; AGIO Cecile Jacqueline Larena of the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for Mindanao; and AGIO Armel Rodrigueza of the Field Investigation Office.

All seven successfully passed the screening process and underwent CFE training and certification examination sponsored by the Philippines Integrity Project (iPro) of USAID implemented by the Management Systems International.

Out of 49 individuals who applied and underwent screening, only the seven, all lawyers, became certified fraud probe experts.

The training ran from Jan. 24 to Feb. 3 and the certification exam was conducted on March 1 and 2.

Congratulating the CFEs, Assistant Ombudsman and spokesperson Asryman Rafanan said “taking the steps to become a Certified Fraud Examiner will position them as specialists in the prevention and detection of fraud.”

“Becoming a CFE requires specific trainings and qualifications and is achieved by passing the CFE training and certification exam,” he said.

Rafanan said the program, which is aimed at strengthening the conduct of investigation and prosecution through skills enhancement in specialized techniques, supports the thrust of Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales to improve the survival rate of cases subjected to fact-finding investigation.