Ex-DAR official indicted for P610k estafa

MANILA, Philippines - Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales on Thursday ordered the indictment of a retired Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) assistant secretary for grave misconduct and estafa.

In a 12-page resolution, the Ombudsman found former DAR official Dominador Andres guilty of soliciting P610,000 from Isla Security Agency with the promise of making them win a contract for DAR security services.

Andres, however, was not able to award the deal as he does not form part of DAR's Bidding and Awards Committee, as stated in a complaint filed in March 2010 by Isla's marketing director Marjorie Escorial.

Escorial said in the sworn statement that Andres initially asked P210,000 in February 2009 while making pretense and misrepresentation.

Andres then later asked for another P500,000 in April 2009 supposedly for DAR undersecretary Narciso Nieto.

The security company, however, only gave P400,000 to Andres, who then issued a personal bank account check with the amount as a bidding guarantee to Escorial.

Upon learning that her company was not awarded the contract, Escorial deposited the check and found it drew against insufficient funds.

The Ombudsman resolution stated that the court has found sufficient prima facie evidence against Escorial, who used his title and position in an act of deceit and mulcting.

Being a retired official and could no longer be dismissed following the indictment, Andres' retirement benefits were forfeited and he was penalized with a fine of a year's worth of salary in his former position.

He has also been disqualified from holding public office in the future.