Ex-PRC chief, 9 others charged over leakage

A former acting commissioner of the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) and nine others were charged with graft yesterday after they were found to have conspired to provide "leakage" to examinees of the June 2001 marine deck officers’ licensure examinations.

The National Bureau of Investigation, through special investigator Flor Resureccion, accused former Acting Commissioner Alfonso Abad of knowing yet concealing and covering up the alleged irregularities at the PRC, which had a high turnout of examinees obtaining "unusually high grades."

In a 13-page referral letter, the NBI informed Presidential Anti-Graft Commission Chairman Dario Rama that 14 examinees obtained 100 percent grades, 41 examinees got 99 percent while 74 examinees garnered 98 percent results which observers noted was a "first in the history of the PRC."

Lawyer Arlis Vela, chief of the NBI’s Anti-Illegal Recruitment Division, said five days before the June 30 exams, a tip was allegedly released by PRC examiner Rodolfo Aspillaga through chief mate Renato Sanggalang, who in turn, relayed this to chief mate Edric Aspilla, reviewer of Golden Success Maritime Inc. in Cebu City.

Captain Edwin Itable, the whistleblower, disclosed that "four sets of leaks" were forwarded by Aspilla to Captain Dennis Santiago, owner of SBR Review Center who also allegedly shared the tip with Captain Wilfredo Marco of the Marco Review Center.

He said Abad did not conduct an investigation and even failed to furnish NBI copies of the "overwhelming" pieces of evidence.

PRC Assistant Commissioner Aristogerson Gesmundo was included in the complaint since he was supposed to be a key PRC official to spearhead the probe but "failed to act" on it.

"Giving aid and comfort to these malefactors was the apparent deliberate neglect of Abad and Gesmundo," the NBI said, adding they even attempted to "cover up" the irregularities by allowing the practical examinations to go on as scheduled despite evidence of wrongdoing.

Among those charged at PAGC, aside from Abad and Gesmundo, were chairman of marine deck licensure examination Capt. Ernesto Bondoc, examiners Jesse Martinez, Aurelio Picardal, Jose Modelo, Rodolfo Aspillaga, Captains Renato Sanggalang, Dennis Santiago and Wilfredo Marco.