Ombudsman suspends DA, FTI officials over Kadiwa onion supply deal 

Ombudsman Samuel Martires has suspended several officials of the Department of Agriculture and the Food Terminal Incorporated due to administrative charges stemming from the alleged anomalous agreement with an onion supplier for Kadiwa stores. 

Martires slapped a six-month preventive suspension without pay against DA Assistant Secretary Kristine Evangelista, DA Administrative Officer V Eunice Biblanias, DA OIC-Chief Accountant Lolita Jamela, FTI Vice President for Operations John Gabriel Benedict Trinidad III and FTI Budget Division Head Juanita Lualhati. 

The five officials, along with DA Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban and FTI President Robert Tan, are facing complaints for grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service in connection with the shortage of supply of onions in local markets, its price manipulation, and the questionable procurement of onions by FTI from Bonena Multi-Purpose Cooperative.

Martires said that the DA, through Panganiban, entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with FTI for the Food Mobilization (Kadiwa Food Hub) project. 

The FTI, meanwhile, signed a Letter of Agreement (LOA) with Bonena for the delivery of 8,845 bags (approximately 28 kilograms/bag) of onions as part of the said Kadiwa Food Hub.

"Documents further show that violations of Republic Act No. 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) in relation to Republic Act No. 9184 or the Procurement Law were allegedly committed by the respondents in relation to the said Kadiwa Food Hub Project, i.e. lack of parameters in the selection of cooperative that will supply and deliver the onions; questionable advance payment of 50% of the contract price; non-compliance of the MOA; partial implementation of the contract; and doubtful deliveries by Bonena," Martires said in the order.

''It appears that the evidence of guilt [against] respondents Evangelista, Biblanias, Jamela, Trinidad III, and Lualhati is strong, and the charges against them involve grave misconduct and gross neglect of duty, which may warrant their removal from office,'' he added. 

GMA News Online has asked for comments from Panganiban and Evangelista, but they have yet to respond as of posting time.  — VBL, GMA Integrated News