Sugar Regulatory Authority chief on hold departure list

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Immigration, in compliance with a Sandiganbayan order, has placed Philippine Sugar Regulatory Authority administrator Rafael Coscolluela on its hold departure order list.

The anti-graft court’s First Division barred him from leaving the country after the Office of the Ombudsman filed graft charges against him for alleged anomalies committed when he was still governor of Negros Occidental.

In an Order signed by Associate Commissioner Roy Almoro, the BI said Coscolluela is among the personalities listed in the government’ HDO documents.

Coscolluela stands accused of violating provisions of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act in relation to allegedly fraudulent purchase of medical and agricultural supplies worth some P20 million in May 2001.

His co-accused include former provincial health officer Ernesto Malvas, special projects management office head Edwin Nacionales, SPMO officer III Jose Maria Amugod and businessman Romeo Chan of Venmilyn Enterprises, the private contractor who supplied the provincial government with the questioned items.

BI Commissioner Marcelino Libaman has informed the Sandiganbayan that the cited persons have been also placed on its HDO list as ordered by the court on June 29.

“Let copies hereof be furnished the Chief of Immigration Regulation Division, the Head supervisors of NAIA I and II (and other airports and ports) and the Computer Section for their information and appropriate action,” the Order said.

The case against Coscolluela was filed based on a complaint filed by Dr. Patricio Tan of a group called the People’s Graftwatch based in Negros Occidental.