PCG-Cebu unfazed by suspension order

CEBU, Philippines - The 90-day suspension of Philippine Coast Guard commandant Vice Admiral Edmund Tan for graft charges is in no way causing demoralization among personnel of the PCG-Cebu, said Commander Rolando Punzalan.

Punzalan said PCG-Cebu cannot afford to be affected by the issue because they have important matters to focus on.

“We are not affected by the information because we have concerns to attend to and we are occupied with our present tasks,” he said in a phone interview.

Punzalan added they are trained to remain focused on their jobs because they have orders on hand from the chain of command.

Recently, the anti-graft court’s fourth division granted the motion of the prosecution to suspend Tan in an eight-page resolution signed by Justice Gregory Ong last July 6.

The graft charges were filed in 2010 due to the alleged unlawful detention of a barge in the Visayas five years ago. It was when Tan used to be the PCG’s Eastern Visayas Command chief.

The case stemmed from the complaint of businessman Reynaldo Chua Jr. who complained over the loss of P500,000 due to penalties from his shipment’s prolonged stay in the dock in 2007.

The barge was carrying a cargo of iron ore.

Tan allegedly ordered the detention by citing a temporary restraining order, which was found to be fictitious.

Tan, however, denied the charge citing that the barge was held for having no anchors.

Tan argued that the criminal aspect should have been dismissed after the complainants withdrew. A motion to dismiss the case was pending.

He reportedly said the Office of the Ombudsman dismissed the case in July 2011.

He added he will file a motion for reconsideration of the suspension order and elevate the case to the Supreme Court if the Sandiganbayan will not grant his plea.  (FREEMAN)