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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Ombudsman affirms filing of criminal charges vs ex-SRA head Serafica for 'violations' of gov't procurement law

Ombudsman affirms filing of criminal charges vs ex-SRA head Serafica for 'violations' of gov't procurement law

Published Jan 22, 2024 08:19 am

The Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) has affirmed its decision to file criminal charges against former administrator Hermenegildo R. Serafica of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) for the delay in the procurement of P5.7 million farm equipment.

In a resolution, the OMB denied the motion for reconsideration filed by Serafica who was indicted for violation of Section 65(a)(2) of Republic Act No. 9184, the Government Procurement Reform Act.

RA 9184 punishes public officials for “delaying, without justifiable cause, the screening for eligibility, opening of bids, evaluation and post evaluation of bids, and awarding of contracts beyond the prescribed periods of action provided for in the Implementing Rules and Regulations.”

In filing his motion for reconsideration, Serafica admitted that while there was a delay in the award of the contract, it was because of circumstances that were beyond his control.

He said that the bids and awards committee (BAC) was responsible for procurement matters, and the changes in the BAC composition affected the endorsement of pending accountabilities. Serafica likewise blamed the Covid-19 pandemic for causing difficulties in the operations of the SRA.
But his arguments failed to sway the OMB which said: "Even assuming, but only for the sake of theoretical argument, that the Board's deferments had been material, Serafica's claims of such deferments and suspensions is not supported by any evidence on record.”

"They are nothing more than mere allegations, at best, which, if unsupported by evidence, cannot be made a basis or ground for reconsideration," it said.

The order of denial was written by Graft Investigation and Prosecution Officer III Kathleen Sheelah T. Uy Alcober with the approval of Assistant Ombudsman Pilarita T. Lapitan. The order was signed by Ombudsman Samuel R. Martires on Dec. 20, 2023.

In a joint resolution issued by the OMB on July 5, 2023, Serafica was found guilty of gross neglect of duty and grave misconduct for which he was ordered dismissed from government service.

The OMB said that since Serafica was already out of government service, he was ordered to pay a fine equivalent to his salary for one year.  His civil service eligibility was also ordered cancelled and his retirement benefits were ordered forfeited.

In the same resolution, the OMB ordered the dismissal of Serafica’s graft charges for violations of RA 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act against Serafica.
 

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