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By Sam Mediavilla, Reporter
At least six officials of the
Department of Finance including a undersecretary are facing charges
for violations of Antigraft and Corrupt Practices Act, including
administrative case following a complaint filed at the Office of the
Ombudsman by the department’s intelligence officer.
In a 10-page complaint filed by
Ruben Anthony Frogoso, intelligence officer II under the Central
Management Information Office of the finance department charges,
were hurled against Undersecretary Gaudencio Mendoza, Thelma
Mariano, Lourdes Santiago, Ma. Theresa Habitan, Ma. Lourdes Dedal
and Rosario Fuerte for allegedly violating Section 3 of the
Antigraft and Corrupt Practices Act.
The case stemmed from a
memorandum sent by Fuerte, human resource management chief, to
Mariano, director of legal affairs, on April, 17, 2006,
“requesting appropriate action relative to Frogoso’s nonfiling
of leave application for absences dated February 1, 6 and 7; March
22, 23, 29, 31 and April 3, 5, 6, 7, 10 and 12.
Fuerte presented arguments that
Frogoso’s absences could be considered habitual since it exceeds
the allowable 2.5 monthly leave credits under the law.
Alfonsito Palma, head of the
intelligence department, allegedly ordered Frogoso to explain the
memorandum from Fuerte “to show proof why no punitive action shall
be taken against him.”
The complainant sent a separate
memorandum to Mendoza askingMendoza to inhibit himself from hearing
his case following rumors that Fuerte went around bragging that
“she got orders from Mendoza to initiate move for his [Frogoso]
dismissal.”
He explained that he filed
charges against the six to get a fair investigation and decision
from an impartial tribunal because Mendoza had apparently made up
his mind even before hearing both sides of the case.
He added that he was also denied
salary for the months of March to August 2006 even in the absence of
any administrative penalty or charge against him, which is clearly
an offense in connection with the official duties of the accused
officials.
For his part, Mendoza, in a
chance interview, said he had not abused his authority, saying he
only did his job to “revive the integrity of his personnel in the
Department of Finance.”
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