NSO exec seeks promotion despite graft case

The officer-in-charge (OIC) of a department at the National Statistics Office is applying for a “promotion” to head the department even if there is a graft case against him pending at the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly diverting gasoline provided by the NSO into his personal vehicle.

Enrique Navarro, OIC of the NSO’s general administration department, has a pending application to be its full-fledged director and a recommendation submitted by the NSO to Malacañang last month.

But Navarro’s colleague, Mercedita Naldoza, is protesting his application. Naldoza, who led the filing of charges of violation of Republic Act 3019 and dishonesty against him, is the president of the NSO employees’ union.

Navarro said there was nothing wrong with him applying for a promotion, adding that he even secured a clearance not just from the NSO but also from the Ombudsman and the Civil Service Commission for the application.

He also denied that he diverted gasoline into his personal car, saying Naldoza’s camp is just getting back at him for recommending another person to a post that was eyed by a member of Naldoza’s group in 2005.

In a recent interview with The STAR, Naldoza said the general administration department handles human resources, budget, accounting and administration functions of the NSO.

In a complaint filed in October 2005, Naldoza said the NSO issued a Mitsubishi Lancer to Navarro as his service vehicle. Navarro also owns a Mitsubishi Space Wagon.

Naldoza alleged that on June 10, 2005, Navarro made a purchase request to buy 60 liters of gasoline and a liter of Helix Oil for his NSO-issued vehicle.

Navarro allegedly went to the Shell gasoline station at the corner of Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard and V. Mapa Road in Sta. Mesa in his private vehicle, while an NSO employee drove his service vehicle to the gas station. Navarro had both vehicles filled with 30 liters of gasoline, according to Naldoza.

In his counter-affidavit, Navarro said he used his private vehicle that day as other officials in his department borrowed his NSO-issued car.

He said that with the almost empty gas tank of his private car, the gas station agreed to fill it with gasoline provided that it would be charged to the NSO-issued vehicle “so that payment can be ensured.”

Navarro repeatedly denied that he diverted the gasoline for his personal use, but said there might have been “lapses in the procedure.”

Navarro said he applied for the position of department director because he has been an OIC for two and a half years, receiving the salary of a division chief.