2 officials of DAR, DTI fired for graft, 5 others suspended

MANILA, Philippines – Two officials of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) were dismissed from the government service after being found guilty of graft by the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC).

PAGC chairman Constancia de Guzman identified the officials as DAR-Bicol assistant director Louise Cynthia Matza and DTI-Sorsogon provincial director Leah Pagao.

De Guzman said Matza was found guilty of violating Republic Act 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act), Republic Act 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees) and Commission on Audit rules when “she approved a transaction between her office and her own company and made a cash advance for that purpose and for which she even signed the official receipt as its proprietress.”

Matza was thus dismissed “with accessory penalties of cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits and disqualification for re-employment in the government,” De Guzman said.

Pagao, on the other hand, was found to have taken advantage of her position by allowing her husband Dante and their driver, Narcisio Marana Jr., to enter into several transactions with the DTI-Sorsogon office that she headed.

Pagao’s husband “was found to be the owner of the vehicle involved in the transactions and was actually engaged in the transport business as evidenced by the certification from the DTI,” De Guzman said.

The PAGC also reported the suspension of Assistant Secretary Dolores de Quiros-Castillo of the National Anti-Poverty Commission, Commission on Higher Education-Region 10 director Eloisa Paderanga, and Directors Joselito Fajardo of the Bureau of Correction, Rodolfo Feraren of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and Alfredo Vasquez Misajon of the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

De Guzman said these officials were suspended for offenses such as simple dishonesty, simple misconduct, and simple neglect of duty.

She said 134 government officials have been sanctioned by President Arroyo based on the PAGC’s recommendations, “the highest ever recorded by any government administration.”