CA imposes 6-month suspension vs officials of  Coast Guard’s bids and awards committee

July 2, 2017

The Court of Appeals has ordered the suspension for six months without pay of seven officials of the Philippine Coast Guard’s bids and awards committee who have been found guilty of simple misconduct for failure to implement procurement rules and guidelines involving P125 million for purchase of rescue equipment and other services. The CA’s Ninth Divison through Associate Justice Florito Macalino modified the resolution issued by the Office of the Ombudsman on November 30, 2015 finding Commodore Enrico Efren Evangelista, Captain Noli Casiano, Captain Ramon Reblora, Captain Angelito Gil,  Captain. Joeven Fabul, Captain Ramon Reblora, Captain Teotimo Borja Jr., and  Commodore. Ramon Lopez, guilty of grave misconduct and ordered their dismissal from the service. The appellate court resolved to disagree with the findings of the Ombudsman that the petitioners  are guilty of grave  misconduct for the alleged bidding irregularities and short delivery of procured equipment of Special Maritime Advance Rescue Team , giving winners unwarranted benefits through evident bad faith, manifest partiality or gross negligence. “While this Court accords great respect to the factual findings of administrative agencies that misconduct was committed, we cannot characterize the offense as grave,” the appellate court stressed. The case stemmed from the Commission on Audit’s  (COA) findings that the petitioners  violated several rules under Republic Act 9184 (Government Procurement Reform Act) covering the disposition of the P125 million fund allocation. DMS