Ex-DA, BFAR execs post bail in VMS mess graft case

Former Department of Agriculture (DA) and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) executives posted bail after being charged with graft in connection with the P2.1 billion vessel monitoring system (VMS) contract.

Ex-DA Undersecretary for Fisheries Eduardo Gongona and former BFAR director Demosthenes Escoto each posted P360,000 bail at the Antipolo City Regional Trial Court last January 8.

Co-accused Simon Tucker, CEO of the British company SRT-UK, also posted bail.

Their arraignment will be on January 22 and their pre-trial will be on February 26.

The Ombudsman had denied Escoto’s motion to reconsider the resolution indicting him and two others for violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, as well as the decision finding him guilty of grave misconduct and ordering his dismissal from service. 

The Ombudsman's decision on Escoto's case indicated that he, while in the exercise of his official function as chairman of the Bids and Awards Committee, “clearly gave unwarranted benefit or advantage” to SRT-UK and its subsidiary SRT-France.—Mariel Celine Serquiña/LDF, GMA Integrated News