Sandiganbayan suspends Ronnie Ricketts, 3 others

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan on Friday ordered the suspension of Optical Media Board (OMB) Chair Ronnie Ricketts and three other officials following the graft charges filed against them.

Ricketts, OMB inspection head Manuel Mangubat, investigation agent Joseph Arnaldo and computer operator Glen Perez are suspended for 90 days after allowing the release of confiscated pirated discs.

The four OMB officials violated Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

READ: Ronnie Ricketts faces criminal rap over pirated discs

Investigation showed that the OMB agents raided Sky Marketing Corporation in Quiapo, Manila in May 2010, according to the Office of the Ombudsman.

The OMB agents confiscated 127 boxes and two sacks of pirated DVDs, VCDs and a video recorder.

The seized items were brought to the OMB office in the afternoon after the raid but were pulled out from the premises in the same evening.

Records show that Ricketts instructed the pull-out of the confiscated items without an approved gate pass using a truck owned by Sky High.

The Sandiganbayan earlier issued a hold departure against Ricketts, Mabngubat, Arnaldo and Perez following the graft case filed by the Office of the Ombudsman.