Ex-Nabcor execs found guilty in
P99M dubious farm equipment procurement
BY PETER TABINGO
THREE former officials of the National Agribusiness Corp. (Nabcor) are now facing six to nine years vacations in the slammer in relation to the anomalous procurement of P99.9 million worth of farm equipment in 2007 and 2008.
Convicted of one count of graft were former Nabcor Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) vice chairperson Encarnita Cristina Munsod, accounting assistant Maria Ninez Guañizo, and General Services Unit head Romulo Relevo.
On top of the jail terms, the Sandiganbayan also imposed perpetual disqualification from holding any government office against all three.
Third Division Associate Justice Bernelito R. Fernandez penned the 65-page decision with the concurrence of Presiding Justice Amparo M. Cabotaje-Tang and Associate Justice Ronald B. Moreno.
On the other hand, the anti-graft court acquitted BAC members Jecyrose Butay-Ramos and Dennis Lozada, together with private defendant Elmer Baquiran, president of supplier Agri Component Corp. (AgriCom), citing lack of proof to establish beyond reasonable doubt that they were part of the conspiracy to defraud the government.
The court likewise ordered the cases against Nabcor’s former president Alan Javellana, BAC chairperson Roderica Bitancor, and accountant Ma. Julie Villaralvo-Johnson, who all remain at large, sent to the archives pending their arrest or voluntary surrender.
Based on the criminal charge filed in 2019, the defendants were accused of giving unwarranted preference to AgriCom through the award of the procurement contract without holding a competitive public bidding despite the existence of several other suppliers, including the brand dealer of Kubota.
Likewise, prosecutors questioned the release of full payment despite late deliveries on a staggered basis that stretched over a year even if Agricom’s letter of intent stated the equipment would be fully turned over to Nabcor within 90 days.
The government’s case rested principally on the testimony of state auditor Filomena D. Ilagan, head of the audit team that reviewed transactions in connection with the P300 million Ginintuang Masaganang Ani (GMA) program of the Department of Agriculture under the Arroyo administration.
In convicting the Nabcor executives, the Sandiganbayan noted that the prosecution convincingly showed that the equipment and other products could have been sourced from other suppliers like Kubota-Agro Industrial Machinery Philippines and other distributors of Tropics Agro Industries Inc. for more advantageous terms to the government.
In addition, it found that the three convicted officials “wantonly disregarded the relevant laws and COA circulars” in preparing disbursement vouchers, purchase orders, delivery receipts and other required attachments for the release of DA funds.
“The conspiratorial acts and omissions of accused Munsod, accused Guanizo and accused Relevo, which amounted to gross inexcusable negligence, were instrumental in carrying out the subject transaction eventually giving unwarranted benefits to AgriCom,” the court noted.
It declared that when Munsod signed the disbursement vouchers and certified the availability of funds, she had an obligation to ensure that the documents and attachments complied with existing accounting and auditing guidelines.
“Accused Munsod, Guanizo and Relevo should have been forewarned to exercise even the slightest diligence when confronted by the several badges of irregularities. Instead, they were grossly and inexcusably negligent in inquiring further and thus deliberately closing their eyes to the fraudulent transaction,” the Sandiganbayan added.
AFP, PNP belie claims 5 NPA rebels executed
BY VICTOR REYES
MILITARY and police officials yesterday belied the claim of leftist groups that the five New People’s Army (NPA) rebels who died in a clash in Bilar, Bohol last week were captured, tortured and then executed by government troops.
AFP Visayas Command commander Lt. Gen. Benedict Arevalo and PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda said the AFP and PNP are open to possible investigation on the clash that also left one policeman dead and another injured.
In a phone interview, Arevalo said the five rebels, including lawyer Hannah Jay Cesista, died in a legitimate operation “based on all the facts and the reports that were given to me” by commanders on the ground.
Arevalo described allegations about the supposed massacre of the five rebels as “propaganda” of the communists.
“They are not saying anything new. They say that to all the things that are happening. We are not hearing anything new from what they are saying. They’ve been saying that in all the operations that we have,” said Arevalo.
The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) earlier claimed the rebels were initially captured, captured then killed by government troops.
CPP spokesman Marco Valbuena said there was no truth to the military’s claim that the five rebels died in an encounter. He said the “willful” killing of the rebels was in “gross violation of international humanitarian law.”
The Central Visayas chapter of the leftist human rights group Karapatan called for an independent investigation on the “gruesome incident given the propensity of state security units to summarily execute suspects under the guise of its worn out ‘nanlaban’ (resisted) narrative.”
The military earlier reported that military and police personnel were conducting a joint operation when they clashed with the insurgents in Barangay Campagao in Bilar last February 18. The fighting led to the death of five rebels, including Cesista and NPA Bohol Party Committee leader Domingo Compoc, who is wanted for murder, rebellion and other charges.
Arevalo said the military is open to investigation to shed light on the issue.
“Of course, as long as we are directed (by authorities),” said Arevalo, adding “that’s their (communists) right to call (for an investigation), they can say anything.”
Army spokesman Col. Louie Dema-ala denied the allegations, saying: “If they think it’s a massacre, we are open to any investigation.
Dema-ala stressed the incident was the product of a “legitimate operation” and soldiers won’t resort to illegal acts as claimed by the communists.
“We deny their accusations and if they think something is wrong, then we welcome any investigation,” added Dema-ala.
In a press briefing at Camp Crame, Acorda said there was no irregularity in the conduct of the operation.
Acorda said the death of the rebels was the result of a “legitimate encounter” based on information from the Central Visayas regional police office.
Acorda noted that a policeman died and another was injured in the firefight.
“If there are complaints, we are open to investigation. But based on the report from our lower units it’s a legitimate encounter. It’s an intelligence-driven operation and it’s an implementation of a warrant of arrest,” said Acorda.
PhilHealth to undergo reorganization
By Gerard Naval
THE Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) is set to undergo a major reorganization to ensure it can keep up with the expansion of its services to its members.
In a press briefing, PhilHealth President and Chief Executive Officer (P/CEO) Emmanuel Ledesma said the state-run health insurer is looking to expand its manpower by about 30 percent.
“After the reorganization is approved, PhilHealth is increasing its total manpower to complement the existing force,” said Ledesma.
“The existing (manpower) is around 7,000. (We want to increase) to roughly 10,000. That would be a little over 30 percent increase,” he added.
Ledesma said such an expansion is necessary as nearly all departments of the agency are experiencing shortages.
“All of the departments, across the board, are short in manpower. Legal, finance, actuary, human resources, all of these are experiencing shortages,” he said.
He said they would need more personnel since they are expanding their programs and services.
“We cannot wait because we have many plans at PhilHealth. We really think this will be a banner year and, unfortunately, we have a shortage in manpower,” said Ledesma.
He, however, noted the PhilHealth reorganization will not happen overnight.
“I think it will happen in a period of 2 to 3 years,” said Ledesma.
Earlier, PhilHealth said it would be pushing through with the five percent premium rate for its members starting this year.
The increase in premium rate, PhilHealth said, would provide the agency with more funds to improve member benefits.
16 Indians in ‘5-6’ lending nabbed in Iloilo, Antique
BY Ashzel Hachero
IMMIGRATION officers recently apprehended 16 undocumented Indian citizens engaged in the “5-6” lending racket in Iloilo and Antique.
Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said the Indians were rounded up in operations conducted by operatives from the BI intelligence division in Western Visayas last February 22.
The operation was carried out after the BI received reports about the alleged increasing presence of illegal Indians in Iloilo engaged in the usurious lending rackets.
“We are intensifying our crackdown against illegal aliens throughout the country, including those who live in far-flung areas and make a living by engaging in illegal lending activities that prey on our poor countrymen,” Tansingco said.
BI-Region 6 intelligence head Jude Hinolan said 10 of the Indians were apprehended in the towns of Arevalo and Savana, Iloilo while the six others were arrested in San Jose, Antique.
“Our investigation found that all of them were engaged in lending activities without the proper work permits while some of them are suspected of being illegal entrants for failure to present travel documents,” Hinolan said in his report to the BI main office in Manila.
After the arrest, the 16 illegal aliens were committed to the BI warden facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City pending deportation proceedings.
Army to recruit 5K soldiers
BY VICTOR REYES
THE Philippine Army will recruit nearly 5,000 soldiers this year to replace retiring and dishonorably discharged personnel.
“For this year, we have a quota of 800 for officers and 4,029 for enlisted personnel,” Army spokesman Col. Louie Dema-ala said.
Dema-ala urged people who want to join the Army to visit the website of the Philippine Army or the Army’s Personnel Management Center and submit their applications.
The Army is leading the campaign against internal security threats, including the New People’s Army, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, the Abu Sayyaf, and the Daulah Islamiyah-Maute Group.
Armed Forces officials have said the military will fully shift to territorial defense operations once the internal threats, which continue to weaken, are finally defeated.
Dema-ala said the lowest ranking soldier, a private, receives a monthly base pay of P31,000, plus allowances and health benefits.
In a phone interview, Dema-ala said the “regular recruitment” of personnel is meant to replace retiring personnel, battle casualties, and those dishonorably discharged.
“It’s not a special recruitment. We have a yearly quota, it’s regular recruitment to maintain our current strength,” said Dema-ala, adding the Army has almost 120,000 personnel at present.
Dema-ala said the Army, under the leadership of Lt. Gen. Roy Galido, continues to hone the skills of its men and upgrade its equipment to better serve the Filipino people.
He said the Army is improving the soldiers’ skills, developing facilities and acquiring new equipment under its modernization program “so it would be at par with our neighbors and even with the first world armies.”
He also disclosed that the Army has organized new regional defense groups and community defense centers as part of the continuing efforts to enhance its reserve force.
At present, Dema-ala said the Army has almost a million reservists throughout the country.
He said the Army wants to further improve its reserve force “to be responsive to the security environment that we are having right now.”
The Army is celebrating its 127th foundation anniversary on March 22 at O’Donnell in Tarlac. President Marcos Jr., the military’s commander-in-chief, is scheduled to attend the event.
Dema-ala said the anniversary celebration will have the theme “Matatag na Hukbong Katihan para sa Bagong Pilipinas.”
“This embodies a modernized, relevant, responsive Philippine Army. For the longest time, we have focused on internal security operations, but now, we have to transition to territorial defense. This is what we want to show, that the Army has changed a lot,” said Dema-ala.
Salonga named new LWUA administrator
BY JOCELYN MONTEMAYOR
PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. has appointed lawyer Jose Moises Salonga as the new administrator of the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA), the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) announced yesterday.
Salonga replaced Vicente Homer Revil as PCO LWUA administrator, who was appointed to the post in February last year.
It was not clear why Revil, a former vice governor of Masbate and member of the provincial board, was replaced.
The PCO said Salonga earned his Bachelor of Economics degree and law degree from the Ateneo de Manila University in 1999 and 2003, respectively, and completed his Master in Public Safety Administration in Philippine Public Safety College in 2017.
Salonga formerly worked at the Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force of the PNP, the National Power Corp., Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), First Farmers’ Rural Bank of Batangas Inc., Philippine Associated Smelting and Refining Corp., Office of the Executive Secretary, and PNOC-Renewable Corp., the First Cabanatuan Renewable Ventures Inc., Emergence Management and Consulting Corp., and the local government of Quezon City.
PCO said that as LWUA Administrator, Salonga will oversee the effective implementation of the mandate of LWUA, which is to promote and oversee the development of water supply systems in provincial cities and municipalities outside Metro Manila.
