Ombudsman suspends 9 PCG officials

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales has ordered the preventive suspension of nine Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) officials, including newly-promoted Rear Admiral Athelo Ybañez and Commodore Teotimo Borja Jr., over their alleged misuse of P27 million worth of public funds.

In a 15-page consolidated order signed on April 30, Morales said the PCG officials will be suspended for a maximum term of six months without pay or until the investigation against them is terminated.

The Ombudsman also ordered the suspension of Commodore Joselito Dela Cruz, Commanders Romeo Salvador Liwanag Jr. and Christine Pauline Diciano, Captains Julius Caesar Lim, Juancho Avila Maraño, and Tito Alvin Andal, and Lieutenant Commander Fatima Aleli Angeles.

Twelve retired PCG officials, including former PCG chiefs William Melad and Rodolfo Isorena, were also included in the investigation.

The complaint filed by the Field Investigation Bureau of the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for the Military and Law Enforcement Officers stemmed from the audit report of the Commission on Audit for 2016.

In the report, COA said the PCG officials and 12 retired PCG officials received cash advances ranging from P600,000 to P2 million meant for the purchase of "commonly used goods" such as office supplies without public bidding.

Liquidation reports showed the PCG officers received more than P27 million in cash advances from 2013 to 2016, according to COA.

The COA said the transaction also failed to comply with rules and regulations on the grant and liquidation of cash advances stated under COA Circular No. 97-002.

Morales said there is sufficient ground to suspend the PCG officials, noting that investigators have found questionable supporting documents for the cash advances.

"Without delving into the merits of the case, sufficient grounds exist to hold that the evidence against respondents is strong at this time," Morales' order read.

"More or less, three hundred and five (305) invoices/official receipts were submitted for liquidation and a significant number of these, after verification, were found out to be serious or at the very least are not the same with those on file with the issuing entity," it added.

Morales said she is ordering the suspension of the PCG officers to prevent the "strong possibility that they may influence witnesses or tamper with any evidence material to the case." —KBK, GMA News