Ex-PLM president, 3 others charged with graft

MANILA, Philippines - Denying their motions for reconsideration, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales stood pat on her decision to order the filing of graft charges against four former officials of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) and the National College of Physical Education, Inc. (NCPE). 

In a seven-page decision released yesterday, she denied the consolidated appeals filed by former PLM president Benjamin Tayabas, College of Physical Education Recreation and Sports dean Priscilla Minas, faculty member Enrique Conlu and NCPE President Alejandro Dagdag Jr. 

All four now face criminal indictments for violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act before the Sandiganbayan.

Records show that in September 2005, a memorandum of agreement was renewed between PLM and NCPE, a private foundation, for the use of the university’s facilities and manpower from 2005 to 2007 for P60,000. 

The Commission on Audit said the agreement was irregular because it was entered into without proper approval from the Board of Regents as required under the PLM charter and without the benefit of a public bidding as required under Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act.

The ombudsman, after an investigation, said NCPE was incapable of renewing the agreement as its Certificate of Registration had already been revoked by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in 2003. 

In addition, it had no business permit to operate in Manila, and it had no Commission on Higher Education permit to operate degree programs. 

“Tayabas, Minas, and Conlu had given a non-existent private foundation unwarranted benefit by allowing it to operate as a school and to collect fees from students at the expense of PLM and the enrollees,” the ombudsman said.