Ombuds to probe loss of rice

CEBU, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman Visayas will conduct a fact-finding on the loss of 35 sacks of rice at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center.

Assistant Deputy Ombudsman Virginia Santiago said the investigation will be conducted based on media reports. The investigation will be done in coordination with the provincial government, she added.

Santiago said the media report will be docketed in their office before it will be raffled to the graft investigator.

She added they would like to know if where the sacks of rice came from, who was in charge of the releasing and why it was placed in the vicinity of provincial jail.

Santiago added the assigned graft investigator will look into the alleged loss of 35 sacks rice and who was responsible or the people involved in the loss.

It was reported earlier that 35 sacks of NFA rice from the jail’s housevan was withdrawn by PGI Antonieto Babor, acting assistant supply officer and rice custodian of CPDRC.

The bags of rice were stored by the Provincial Social Welfare Development Office (PSWDO) at the CPDRC housevan in Barangay Kalunasan, Cebu City.

The withdrawal of rice was made last week wherein Babor allegedly instructed the 17 inmates working in the kitchen to load 35 sacks of NFA rice into the CPDRC van to deliver it to the Capitol.

However, upon hearing, assistant warden Reynaldo Pepito, Jr. then informed Capitol consultant on peace and security Cesar Veloso and requested to intercept the van but it did not arrive in the Capitol.

During the investigation made by Veloso, Babor explained it was Wilson Ramos, PSWDO staff, who called him to deliver the rice to the Ecotech Center in Lahug, Cebu City to certain military personnel as these were intended for indigents.

But Ramos denied the allegation, claiming he was on leave on April 25 and 26 and he never called up Babor.

Babor claimed he drove the van alone and upon reaching the DepEd Sudlon area, he was stopped by five men claiming they were the ones supposed to receive the rice.

The sacks of rice were unloaded and transferred to an L300 Mitsubishi van bearing only a temporary company plate.   (FREEMAN NEWS)