11 PNP officials dismissed over rubber boat anomaly

MANILA, Philippines - Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales ordered yesterday the dismissal from the service of two police generals, suspended eight other police officials and personnel, and admonished a National Police Commission (Napolcom) official for their alleged involvement in the anomalous purchase of police rubber boats in 2009.

Records showed that the Philippine National Police purchased P131.5 million worth of 75 rubber boats for the PNP Maritime Group and 18 outboard motors that were defective.

In a 118-page decision, Morales said Chief Superintendent Herold Ubalde and Deputy Director General Benjamin Belarmino Jr. were found guilty of the administrative case for grave misconduct and gross neglect of duty and were ordered dismissed. Both have retired from the service.

They were also slapped with the accessory penalty of losing all their retirement benefits and perpetual disqualification from holding public office.

In case such penalties can no longer be served by reason of resignation or retirement, Morales said the alternative penalty of fine equivalent to one-year salary is imposed in addition to the accessory penalties.

For simple neglect of duty, Director George Piano, Chief Superintendent Luis Saligumba, and Senior Superintendents Job Nolan Antonio and Edgar Paatan, as members of PNP Inspection and Acceptance Committee, were ordered suspended for six months without pay.

Morales said Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) and Technical Working Group (TWG) members Joel Crisostomo de Leon Garcia, Ronald Lee, Ma. Linda Padojinog, and Ruben Gongona were ordered suspended for one month also without pay.

Napolcom Director Conrado Sumanga Jr. was warned to be more circumspect in his duties after his alleged failure to take a more proactive stance as a member of the Oversight Committee and acting service chief of the Installations and Logistic Service.

Verzosa absolved

Retired PNP chief Jesus Verzosa, the highest-ranking police official implicated in the rubber boat scam, was absolved of the administrative charges because of his retirement.

The Ombudsman, however, ordered the filing of separate graft charges against Verzosa, Ubalde and Belarmino, and several other police officers before the Sandiganbayan in September 2012 in connection with the rubber boat anomaly.

Verzosa along with 18 other respondents retired in September 2010.

The Ombudsman said Verzosa was spared from the administrative case for lack of jurisdiction in view of his retirement prior to the filing of the complaint.

Likewise exonerated were 17 other respondents in the administrative case for insufficient evidence.

Verzosa and the other officers were indicted for graft charges based on complaints filed by the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for the Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices’ Fact-Finding Bureau (FFIB-MOLEO) in November 2011 and February 2012.

The PNP purchased the P131.5 million worth of 75 rubber boats and 18 spare engines or outboard motors as part of the PNP’s Annual Procurement Plan for 2008 under its Capability Enhancement Program Funds through negotiated procurement.