Ombudsman orders MIAA accountant axed

MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the dismissal from government service of a Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) senior accountant after finding her guilty of asking for commissions from a private firm in 2006.

Graft probers said Leilani Pagdanganan’s acts constitute a violation of Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

In a complaint, Ma. Girlie Jose of Equine Power Trading Co. alleged that Pagdanganan and MIAA division manager Felisa Dizon acted as middlemen of a financier and conspired in demanding commissions for helping secure a loan for Equine, which had a project with MIAA.

She said Pagdanganan offered to find someone who could finance and extend a loan on the condition that the latter gets five percent commission while Dizon, who is in charge of releasing checks, gets P20,000.

Jose added that on their first transaction, Pagdanganan handed her P2,830,000, representing her loan, with a deduction of P150,000 representing Pagdanganan’s commission and P20,000 for Dizon.

In its decision, the Office of the Ombudsman said “the existence of withdrawal slips bearing the name and signature of respondent Pagdanganan to have withdrawn... from the account of Equine is a testament that indeed Pagdanganan has pecuniary transaction with Ms. Jose.”

The complaint against Dizon was dismissed due to lack of evidence.