Ombud clears NAPOCOR couple from graft charges

CEBU, Philippines - Two former officials from the National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR) were cleared from criminal and administrative charges over the alleged non-declaration of real properties in their Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN).

Graft investigator Alfred Yann Oguis dismissed the complaints filed against spouses Eduardo and Ma. Florenda Eroy who were earlier accused of perjury, dishonesty, grave misconduct, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

Eduardo, vice-president for logistics, and Maria Florenda, fiscal services chief, allegedly did not declare their real properties located in the cities of Zamboanga and Cebu according to the complaint filed by the field investigation office of the Office of the Ombudsman represented by associate graft investigator Dindo Jacinto.

In his complaint, Jacinto said the two respondents did not declare their real properties in Banigan Liloy, Zamboanga City which they acquired in 1999 and in Villalon Subdivision Lahug, Cebu City which was acquired in 2002.

“What is notable is that the above properties were not declared in any of the spouses Eroy’s SALNs for the years following the year of their respective acquisition,” the resolution reads.

Jacinto said that the failure of the couple to declare their properties also constituted dishonesty, grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

In the joint counter-affidavit of the respondents, they denied the allegations filed against them saying they have declared their two parcels of land in their SALN since they acquired the said properties.

“The two parcels of land with improvements mentioned in the complaint are the same parcels of land declared in our SALNs,” they said.

They argued that the basis of the complaint was because of the description of the location of their properties which were stated in general terms. Eduardo said he left NAPOCOR effective April 30, 2011 but was extended to June 30, 2011 while Ma. Florenda said she already retired as of June 2009.

Based on the evidences presented, Oguis dismissed the complaints for insufficiency of evidence.

“As evidenced by the SALNs submitted by the respondents, the Zamboanga property alleged to have been undeclared was, in fact, declared, albeit in a manner that did not make the same immediately evident and clear to one examining the SALNs of the respondents,” he said. (FREEMAN)