Suspended NIA chief denies harassing employees

MANILA, Philippines — Suspended National Irrigation Administration chief Benny Antiporda yesterday denied the allegations of NIA employees who filed an administrative complaint against him before the Office of the Ombudsman, which led to his preventive suspension for six months without pay.

At a press conference in Quezon City, Antiporda maintained that the complaint was politically motivated as he is bent on ridding the agency of corruption, pointing out that NIA “only had an accomplishment of one percent every year.”

In a six-page order dated Nov. 15, Ombudsman Samuel Martires suspended Antiporda without pay for the duration of the investigation of the complaints filed against him by NIA Employees Association of the Philippines lawyer Allain Cudal, corporate board secretary Michelle Raymundo and anonymous workers of the agency.

Antiporda was accused of grave misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the interest of service, harassment, ignorance of the law and oppression.

Among the allegations against him included threatening employees of non-renewal of appointments, corruption, berating and humiliating employees as well as placing some on floating status.

“These acts of the respondent, according to the complainants, allegedly created a chilling effect on NIA employees,” Martires said in his order.

Antiporda, who confirmed that his office was padlocked after the suspension order was served, denied the allegations, which he described as “petty” and “fabricated.” –  Elizabeth Marcelo