Relieved AFP medical center chief reinstated

MANILA, Philippines - The military has reinstated the chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Center (AFPMC) who has been tagged in the allegedly irregular purchase of hospital supplies worth P80 million.

AFPMC Commander Brig. Gen. Normando Sta. Ana Jr. was reinstalled in his post last January 12 due to lack of evidence that would link him to anomalies, AFP public affairs chief Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc said.

Also cleared were Lt. Col. Florencio Capulong, special disbursing officer; Maj. Neil Bugarin, chief of the management and fiscal office; and Col. Rogelio del Rio, acting assistant chief of staff for logistics.

"After a thorough investigation, the complaints against the aforementioned officers were dismissed for lack of evidence to support the allegations and because nobody testified to substantiate the complaints," Cabunoc said in a statement.

Sta. Ana’s staff officers, however, have yet to reassume their positions because they are still being probed on other procurement issues.

"Rest assured that the AFP is committed to improve the medical services for its soldiers and enhance the systems in the hospitals,” Cabunoc said.

Sta. Ana was temporarily relieved as AFPMC chief last October to ensure a fair probe of the allegedly anomalous purchase of P80-million worth of medicines and medical equipment.

AFP chief Gen. Gregorio Catapang Jr. ordered the probe after a certain Renato Villafuerte had filed a complaint against them before the Ombudsman.

Sta. Ana and his staff officers were accused of favoring suppliers and violating the procurement law.

The AFPMC leadership, the complainant alleged, also sought the realignment of P40-million to pay debt accumulated by buying supplies even without budget.

Investigators, however, found out that Villafuerte was a fictitious person. The probe did not find sufficient evidence that would link Sta. Ana to the procurement being questioned.